Taking out a stump, a BIG stump

[karmakanic]

"Honey, isn't it about time you took out that old stump that's in the middle of my daffodil field. I'm getting tired of mowing around it, and I can't get the poison ivy cleared out cause of the roots." So spoke my lovely significant other and head daffodil planter.

Hmmm,,,well I guess so. It's been rotting there for about 4 years now, hopefully mother nature's little ground living vermin have softened it up enough. I knew better then to go after it right after we had cut it down. It was a granddaddy bur oak when it died, and wasn't going to give up it's foothold easily.

But it certainly didn't look that intimidating at first glance. See attached photo.

 

[karmakanic]

Well,,,like the proverbial iceberg, it's what's under the surface that counts. Here's the root ball exposed. Ms. head daffidol planter stands 5'6" tall and kindly consented to climb in the hole for perspective.

 

[karmakanic]

Finally got the root ball broken loose. Now, how to get it out of the hole?

 

[karmakanic]

Well,,,slinging a chain around it and dragging it out ain't gonna work,,,tire spin city,,,

 

[beenthere]

One idea for getting the stump out of the hole is to roll it to one side, then push dirt into the other side. Keep rocking it back and forth onto the dirt pushed back into the hole. Slowly it will get higher and higher. I raise large boulders out that way. With stumps, I fill in around them so they are below ground level. I don't try to get them out.

 

[karmakanic]

So, let's worry on it with the backhoe bucket for a while,,,just worry that old thing until it gives up,,,

 

[karmakanic]

Finally got the bucket teeth in the right toe hold and split the trunk into two pieces, here's the first half coming out of the hole now.

 

[karmakanic]

And here's the second half coming out of the hole.

 

[DarinRay]

Nice project you got there along with your L35 (SWEET). If I were you I would get your 550 out and toss her around awhile and then put the ole stump to rest somewhere. Looks like you got plenty of toys to play with that's for sure. LOL

Darin

Great pics too with step by step.

 

[karmakanic]

And finally, job finished,,,
The area now safe for mowers and daffodil planters.