Anyone burn out a large in-ground stump?

[julian abram]

I was wondering if anyone has experience burning out a large stump. I've seen some discussion on various methods of stump burning but never done it myself, wondering how successful it is. I have a large (52" diameter) stump in my backyard left over from a dead white oak about 4 years ago. When we cut the tree down we left the stump about 3' tall. Today I spent a few hours cutting it off a ground level, it was kind of like wresting a bear all afternoon. Anyhow, now that's it cut off level I was thinking about drilling some holes down into it and seeing if I could burn all or some of it out. I know grinding is always a option.

[Mike Henderson]

I'd rent a grinder. Home Depot rents them around here. Kind of heavy work but if you're willing to keep grinding you can take the stump down pretty far. Your's looks pretty open and accessible.

Mike

[Art Mann]

I have an ongoing project in my yard to burn out stumps using the waste wood from my shop. It works really well on 6"-8" pine stumps that are 8" tall and have been dead for a year. One big fire does the trick. I just fill the hole in with dirt and you can't tell it was ever there. I have a cherry tree stump about half the size of yours that I have burned big hot fires on top of maybe 5 times and it will take that many more to get the stump below ground level. In your case, I think burning fires on top of that tough stump will take approximately forever to make it go away. I pretty much agree with Mike.

[Larry Edgerton]

Here you go Julian.

http://www.treeremoval.com/stump-removal/how-to-burn-and-rot-tree-stumps/#.VRfRdeHNOgw

I use the fertilizer method. Until I get impatient and call in the reinforcements. I'm taking out a bunch of maples that are shading the garden, and I want to plant a small orchard in their place, so I will opt for the excavator method. I'm too old to wait for stumps to rot........


Larry

[Myk Rian]

Dynamite works well.
And it's a whole lot more fun.

[ryan paulsen]

I just did a bunch of WO stumps that size. You might have a chance at burning it if you can dig a hole and get under it, otherwise you're looking at a year's worth of bonfires to even make a dent in the thing. Do not rent a home center grinder for that thing! I hired a guy with a walk behind diesel powered grinder, and with new teeth he was around an hour a stump, including chasing roots. If the area is accessible with a truck, then a tow behind offers more power. The local equipment rental should offer these if you don't want to hire it out.

[Brian Tymchak]

Many years ago, I tried burning out a stump about that size of a maple tree that was felled many years prior. I set fire to that stump about every Saturday for about 5 months using old motor oil as an accelerant. Needless to say, it didn't work. I ended up digging around the stump, cutting most of the roots, and then finally yanking it out with a tractor.

[Rich Riddle]

I have burned them by drilling numerous holes in the stump and then filling the holes with flammable material, refilling, etc. Then send a lighted rag its way but don't get too close. It works but if you live in a large city it might draw attention. Have also used a stump grinder. The grinder's an easier and slightly more legal option.

[julian abram]

Fellows, thanks for the suggestions & input on this. I think I'll try the burning method that Larry linked above. I figure after a few frustrated burning attempts I will probably end up calling someone with a stump grinder.

[Justin Ludwig]

If I'm not in a hurry I use an old tractor rim that we cut out the center. 310368 I just moved those logs today with the tractor. The burned stump is from a brush pile.

This winter I burned a redbud stump. I can mow over it. 310370

Last year I burned this privet stump. I ended up using the spot to burn more brush. 310369

Grass comes back wicked thick with bermuda where I burn.

[William Adams]

That’s how my father and I removed more stumps than I care to recall over the course of eight years or so.

We’d place a 55 gallon drum over it which had the top and bottoms removed and some additional holes chopped in the sides w/ a hatchet and each night burn the paper trash, sticks and kindling which I gathered and branches and smaller trunks cut to a reasonable length. The next day I’d flip the barrel on its side, scrape away the ash and char and dig as much dirt as was needed to settle the drum down further.

Clearing and stumping land is hard work.

[Ole Anderson]

Burning stumps is like trying to burn wet, green firewood, only worse with the old roots feeding water to it.. You have to add enough heat to evaporate the water before you will ever get it to burn. Not easy.

[Kent A Bathurst]

Dynamite works well.
And it's a whole lot more fun.

That's how both my Kansas farm Granddads did it.

Their methods varied only in the color of disposal - One was a die-hard Farmall man, and the other was a die-hard Deere man.

Wrap a chain around it, and drag it the heck out of there.

[Robert Engel]

Tried it never had any luck with it. I suppose if it was lightered it might work.

Have you thought about soaking it with diesel and letting it set for a few days, then see if it will light?

[daryl moses]

Never had much luck trying to burn them although I have tried many times.
Quickest way I've found other than a stump grinder is to simply cut them off as close to the ground as possible then cover with dirt, mulch, etc. They usually rot out in a year or so after that.

[Bryan Rocker]

I'd rent a grinder. Home Depot rents them around here. Kind of heavy work but if you're willing to keep grinding you can take the stump down pretty far. Your's looks pretty open and accessible.

Mike

What he said.......if you are lucky you might catch a tree company in your area to stop by as well.......

[Art Mann]

I have a warning about Home Depot rental stump grinders. If the teeth on the grinder aren't sharp, the tool is very, very slow and the operator experience is that of trying to plow the stump up with a front tine garden tiller, at least with the smaller units. I know this from personal experience. :( Always check the teeth for sharpness before leaving.

[Jim Andrew]

White Oak stumps are particularly hard to get rid of. The wood lasts very long in the ground, it won't rot away like elm or some other woods. My dad dug some white oak stumps out, using shovel and pulling with a tractor when I was small, I hit the remains of one with a piece of farm equipment, and finally had to dig out the remains of it, about 30 years after the tree was cut down. My neighbor used a steel drum to burn out some pine stumps, took about a week, during a dry hot summer. Just built a fire in the drum every day, on top of the stump. The amount of moisture in the ground makes a huge difference, if the ground is just dry as a bone, the stump will burn well.

[julian abram]

Stump update! Ok the stump saga is over. I made a feeble attempt to burn the stump. Bored 1" holes with an auger bit, filled the holes with diesel fuel and let the fuel soak in for several days. I built a hot fire on top and keep that burning for a weekend. The stump laughed at my effort, by Monday it was just a little charred. Obviously there was way too much moisture for it burn. I called a fellow with a grinder to come give me an estimate. I actually had cut another large white oak next to my shop, so he said $200 for (2) 50" stumps, (1) 20" and a handful of small stumps. I thought that was a bargain since the rental place priced a Veemer 252 at $300/day. I actually gave him an extra $20 for his good service, he was very appreciative. He came yesterday with his Veemer 252, in two hours all the stumps were piles of mulch. Thanks for all suggestions for this project, grinding was the right approach for this project.