Removing tree stumps

[mummyh]

I've just spent most of the day today cutting down three large bushes/small trees and am now left with three stumps which I want to take out, but I can't budge any of them. I've tried with my garden fork, and with a spade, and none of them show signs of moving at all. Anyone got any tips?

[merciasounds]

http://reviews.homeba...gb/527682/reviews.htm

[AlBags]

Well that won't take them OUT will it!?
Hire a Mini Kubuto .. ask for just the narrow bucket.
Dig around/loosen around outside and lever/hook the root/stump out.

[merciasounds]

But it's far easier when it's rotten than trying to dig out deep roots!

[mummyh]

Thanks guys - I think a mini excavator would be great fun, but slight overkill - they're not THAT big!

[gingejbee]

mercia - that's what I did: much easier when they're dead - just come to pieces.

[danchip]

hire a stump grinder

[honky-tonk]

Dig down from the base of the trunk with a trowel, takes some time to do, until you get to the roots and saw/cut the roots.

[The Builder]

................ but mini-diggers are great fun :o)))) Have one for the day and do a lot of other stuff as well ;o)

[danchip]

i know, i hired one to dig a 20m trench and ended up digging up most of my garden i was having that much fun!

[carrust]

Buy one of these.http://www.google.com/products/catalog?
q=mattock+tool&hl=en&rlz=1B3GGLL_en___GB378&p
rmd=ivns&biw=1013&bih=535&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=9
909226041247705455&sa=X&ei=FK93TfPlGsXpgQen_P
W9BQ&ved=0CGkQ8wIwAA#


The shorter end is perfect for going through tree roots!

[carrust]

Whoops link didn't work...try this onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattock

[landscaper2]

No pain, no gain. Get yourself a nice sharp mattock (as carust says) and work your way round the stump chopping through the roots, with a bit of muscle they will soon be out. Dare I say you should have left 3ft of trunk for leverage?! Never mind, just take 3 or 4 times longer, thats all!

[RATTER15]

I agree with this tool as well as posted above http://www.google.com/products/catalog?
q=mattock+tool&hl=en&rlz=1B3GGLL_en___GB378&p


rmd=ivns&biw=1013&bih=535&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=9


909226041247705455&sa=X&ei=FK93TfPlGsXpgQen_P


W9BQ&ved=0CGkQ8wIwAA# Ive been using one for exactly that purpose only im taking small trees with it, masterful tool, ive used them for years!

[RATTER15]

Grrrrr, anyway, its a great tool lol

[LoftyLottie]

Do what we do, grow clematis and other climbers up the stumps and make features of them!!

[scotman]

I believe you can get chemicals which you pour over the cut surface. This soaks into the stump and ensures it does not regrow. It then rots away. This can take some time I believe.

[mummyh]

Thanks everyone - bought a cutting mattock yesterday and all three stumps have now been removed. Aching shoulders now though....

[carrust]

Got an aversion to the Spaniard mummyh?............Manuel Labour....

[mummyh]

No aversion to manual labour here thank you very much - hauling stumps out of the ground and hacking through roots was very manual indeed!