Stumps from toppled trees

[Tiz]

Anyone have any thoughts on what to do with stumps of toppled trees - HUGE trees and HUGE stumps. Like 10' diameter root ball ripped up from the ground.

I can cut the tree off the stump but not sure I can get at the thing with a stump grinder. How to get the dirt off?

Ideas?

I have 4 large trees down and need to get rid of the stumps and fill the holes.

--Kevin

[troidus]

Do you have to get the dirt off? A pressure washer would take care of it, but you may be making extra work (and a lot of mud) for yourself.

[Tiz]

I was considering a garden hose. I'd like to get most of the dirt off. I'm hoping they can go to the dump but I'll have to cut them up to get them in my truck. I'd need a payloader to move them as-is.

I'd don't need them clean, but there's probably a ton of dirt there on the two biggest and half ton on the smaller ones.

--Kevin

[junglemototours]

Fire.

[SCQTT]

What kind of trees? Could be worth some serious money.

I lived in Memphis when Hurricane Elvis came through. Massive old trees down everywhere. Tree crews were making a killing removing the trees & then selling the wood & stumps. Double dipping!

[Speedo66]

I unfortunately was in the same position, 2' diameter tree down, with a huge root ball standing up.

I can cut trees, but couldn't (didn't want to) handle the roots. Figured no good would come to the chain saw cutting through all the roots and dirt you couldn't remove.

Called a tree service. Front loader picked it up and brought it to the driveway where an open box truck with an arm picked it up and took it away.

I figured it was money well spent.

[Spikehead]

+



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[DUNDERHEAD]

Be careful when you cut the trees. As you remove the weight of the limbs, the tree wants to stand up and bite you ! Watch out !!!!

[machinebuilder]

Call someone to grind them. the machines they have are so much better than you can rent and they'll probably level things when they're done.

Of course it may take a while to get to your job with all the damage up there.

[CycleDoc59]

Not quite on subject, but long ago stumps were removed, slowly,
with stump pullers, and a powder wedge was sometimes used to split up the
really big ones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYQbMMCe0tU
http://gasengine.farmcollector.com/g...z12aszbea.aspx

[sailah]

My buddy used a bulldozer to rip em out and then skidded them on a trailer. We started with a big stump grinder from a rental place, that lasted 20 min lol

[speedracertdi]

Burn them then beat the dirt off with a sledge hammer. Repeat until theyre small enough to handle.

[adam_c_eckhardt]

A local waste company takes a dump truck load of stumps for $100. He runs them through a shredder and sells the chips. Knowing what I know about shredders, that $100 barely covers operation and maintenance costs, not to mention paying off the actual machine.

Then your problem is getting them in the truck. You may find someone can make quick work of this, and probably won't charge too much- especially if you offer cash.

Whatever you do, please don't bury them. They can become quite dangerous. A family friend lost a toddler years ago. The kid was wondering around, fell in a sink hole caused by buried stumps, and suffocated. Turns out the developer buried stumps instead of having them hauled off.

It's also been suggested that you hire a pro with a stump grinder. Not a bad way to go- their machines are top notch and will make quick work of it.

[Beezer]

if the trees are still in the dirt, leave the stump long. the extra height gives leverage to pull/push the stump out. it's not easy work even with a blade. anyway, no matter how you do it, it's never as easy as you think it should be.

grinding.... maybe. it doesn't remove all the roots & such. if you want all of it gone, you have to pull it.

[Tiz]

Thanks all. I do like the powder wedge.....

The trees are on their side with root ball in the air, so I think a stump grinder won't work. Best idea is probably to get someone with machines to haul them away. I had considered burying them but will not given the info provided.


--Kevin