There is always a time when the old has to give way to the new, also in the home garden. While the removal of shrubs, flowers and vegetable plants is easy to do, a tree stump poses a real challenge for many a hobby gardener. A simple alternative to brute force and the use of heavier machinery is burning out. With our step-by-step instructions, you too can remove your tree stump in no time at all.
Burn out tree stump
Although the pros and cons of burning out are always hotly debated, there can actually be situations in which other methods of removal are simply not feasible or can only be implemented with immense effort. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which method is right for you. If you decide to burn out, we will help you with this guide to carry out the right steps in such a way that the greatest possible success occurs with ideally negligible disadvantages.
Notice: Since all of the wood that we find is combustible, basically any tree stump is suitable for burning out. However, hardwoods such as oak, beech or walnut require significantly more effort, since the wood itself burns very slowly and under unfavorable conditions only smolders or even goes out completely. On the other hand, it is very easy to burn out resinous conifers, as the resin itself is a kind of fire accelerant that is already present throughout the wood.
1. Preparation
First of all, the right framework conditions should be created in order to be able to carry out the burnout successfully:
- Remove loose soil or soil that can be loosened with little effort in the upper stump area
- Saw off the tree stump as close as possible to the remaining soil to avoid unnecessary effort from burning additional wood mass
- Drill holes vertically and at an angle over the entire trunk cross-section with a drill or cordless drill
- Choose the largest possible drill diameter
- In the area of lateral roots, also drill diagonally into the roots
tip: In place of the holes to be drilled, the tree stump can also be sawed in like a chess board with a chainsaw. However, since this requires a plunge cut, this work should only be carried out by persons with sufficient experience in handling these dangerous tools.
2. fuel paste
Although wood is generally considered to be highly combustible, a tree stump will hardly burn to the depths of its substance when burned out. The reason for this is the fire's need for oxygen, which means that a fire only ever takes place on the surface. In addition, a fire, following the thermals, develops upwards and thus does not penetrate into the depths of the tree roots by itself. In order to remove them safely, however, the previously created holes are filled with a fuel paste as a fire accelerator or fire spreader in the wood:
- Mix equal parts saltpetre and petroleum until you get a tough paste
- Wear gloves and goggles to protect against harmful effects
- Alternatively: Use fuel pastes from the household, for example from fondue or raclette
- Fill the drilled holes with fuel paste, for example with the help of a thin stick
- Lead the fuel paste to the bottom of the hole, but do not fill it completely for better oxygen supply
Important: You should never choose liquid fire accelerants as they will flow from the root into the ground and cause significant damage or soil degradation. In particular, the contained petroleum is considered to be harmful to the environment!
3. Burning out a stump: instructions
After the rootstock has been prepared and the fire accelerant added, the root is ignited. The next, most tedious part of removing the die with the cautery method is also the easiest. You have to wait and watch how the fire slowly works its way through the wood and removes the unloved root bit by bit:
- To be on the safe side, have a fire extinguisher, bucket of water or garden hose ready
- Ignite fuel paste at the entry of the drilled holes
- ideally set fire to all holes to allow for widespread spread
- Due to the easy flammability of the fuel paste, choose a suitable ignition source with a sufficient safety distance, e.g. Bunsen burner, stick lighter, etc.
- Alternatively: use a fuse made of easily combustible paper or something similar to keep hands away from the immediate burning area
danger: Especially when using fuel pastes containing petroleum, you should not stand directly by the fire during the actual burnout. The resulting smoke is considered harmful and should not be inhaled!
4. Rework
Before deciding on the method of burning, one should be aware that fire cannot completely eliminate the stump. Anyone who has seen the residues left behind in a campfire, even under ideal conditions, quickly realizes that the poor oxygen supply and the surrounding soil are likely to lead to much larger residues. The fire in the tree stump usually only removes the large wood mass of the core, while the edge areas of the root with its countless ramifications are still present in the ground. Depending on the requirements and the desired subsequent use of the area, different rework can be useful:
always
- Remove the ash and leftover pieces that are easy to remove from the stump, for example with a hoe, hand shovel or goat's foot
- Disposal in the residual waste or on the compost
Further disposal if necessary
- Now pull accessible root parts out of the ground
- In the case of large-format root parts, repeat the burn-out process locally
tip: Even if the root has been removed to a sufficient extent by burning out, it is worth drilling the remaining thick roots or even parts of the trunk before filling the root hole with soil. Moisture and microorganisms get into the wood through the holes, accelerating decomposition in the soil.