Having a tree removed from your property without any professional guidance is a big accomplishment, not only in that you can save yourself a health amount of money, but more so because you gain some valuable experience in landscaping. While you may have managed to cut down a tree’s limbs and trunk encumbered, the real work starts when you reach the lower extremities of the plant – particularly the stump and the roots. A big chunk of the price of tree removal quoted to you is budgeted towards addressing these areas, if the job is even reflected in the price. More often than not, special machinery is required to unearth these remnants from the ground. If you feel you are up to the task and don’t feel particularly inclined to invest the necessary machinery, like a stump grinder, get ready to leverage some elbow grease.
Common sense tells us that a tree stump is firmly seated into the ground thanks the tree’s roots which have been allowed to grow outwards for the life of the tree. To dislodge the stump form the ground, we have to sever the connections it has with the roots. In order to go about doing this, we need to dig a hole around the circumference of the stump. Be sure to start an ample distance away from the edge of the stump as to not be encumbered by the thick roots which exist at the base of the tree. You should continue digging the trench until you no longer run across any roots.
As you come across any roots, you can use a landscape bar to help remove them. These bars have a sharpened end to allow for maximum efficiency when it comes to root removal. After completing root removal about the base of the stump, you should now try to wedge the landscape bar under the stump and apply some pressure. Taking advantage of the leverage provided by the edge of the trench, wiggle the bar around to see if you can slightly pry the stump out. It may take multiple tries before you even see a smidgen of movement. You might have to continue hacking away at the roots using the landscape tool to further loosen the stump.
If after a day’s work you are unable to remove the stump and are ready to throw the towel in, you can find a reputable tree stump removal specialist to handle the task for you. Don’t expect the job to be cheap, but at least you’ll more fully appreciate the sweat equity you are paying for.
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