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For some reason you cut down a tree in the garden or yard, maybe it was already blocking the view too much or shading too much, maybe it was attacked by pests and could not be saved, or it was simply too old.
In any case, however, a stump remains after the felled tree, which is usually a nuisance and not easy to remove.
If you are not in a hurry to remove it and wait half a year to a year, we will show you what to do so that you can get rid of it after that time without unnecessary physical effort and without the need to use heavy machinery.
First you need to drill deep holes into the top of the stump. Depending on the circumference of the trunk, it will usually be sufficient to drill 2 to 3 holes.
The magic called saltpetre
Remove the shavings and prepare crystallized ammonium nitrate (saltpetre), which you can buy in garden supplies and other specialized stores.
Saltpetre is used mainly as
- an excellent starter fertilizer for enriching the soil
- an oxidizing agent for inorganic synthesis, and
- in a smoker as an effective agent in an anesthetizing mixture (a smoker is a beekeeping tool that helps prevent stings).
Thoroughly fill the holes prepared with saltpetre. When they are filled, press the saltpetre into them with your finger and top it up to the rim. It is recommended to use protective gloves.
The stump is ready to be removed
Leave the stump prepared in this way untouched for about half a year to a year, as we announced at the beginning of the article. The time will depend mainly on the trunk circumference and the hardness of the wood. You will know the process is finished best when the bark has completely separated from the rest of the trunk and the wood looks dried out and feels softer to the touch.
Now it is time to remove the stump. Take a rod or stick that fits into the drilled holes and, by applying pressure to the sides, split the stump. Then, by striking around the stump from the outside with a hammer, you will disrupt its structure so that it will no longer be a problem to pull out individual pieces by hand.
Clean the hole left by the stump of its remnants and fill it with soil.
You’re done, without digging and physical exertion!
