How best to excavate this stump?

[RNeumann]

Will a stump grinder go down 3 or 4feet? That's how deep the bulk of the stump will go. I didn't think they went that deep but I've always just dug stumps so I've never used one.

Every one I’ve had done was deep enough to plant a new tree in the same spot. The rest is, as they say, ashes to ashes and dust to dust.

 

[Diggin It]

Kind of a weird shape too. If you decide to plant nearby, is there a woodcarver around that could carve it into some sort of yard sculpture? I'm not sure how long a maple stump would last before it rotted out though.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I like the way y'all think because I've thought the same things! :laughing:

Unfortunately, my garage is in it's fall-zone and I've put off good judgement for about 7yrs just because I hate the idea of cutting it down. The house was built around 1790 and the tree almost certainly saw that happen.

I actually brought out a chainsaw carver I know. He said with the trunk still attached to the roots any carving he does will only last a few years. In the and we decided we wanted to put another tree in anyways because we rely on the shade.

There is a reason the new tree needs to go in the same place. Hidden behind the big maple is a 6" DBH Sunset Maple I about 6 years ago. About 4 years ago a kid I had working for me nearly girtled it with a weed wacker. I may still grow ok an want to give it appropriate space.

 

[Diggin It]

I actually brought out a chainsaw carver I know. He said with the trunk still attached to the roots any carving he does will only last a few years. In the and we decided we wanted to put another tree in anyways because we rely on the shade.

OK. Can it be cut off at ground level? If so, see about having the trunk moved to a concrete base close by to be carved, then dig/grind out the rest to make room for the planting. I have no idea what a 8-10' tall chunk of it would weigh though as far as moving it and forming a sufficient base to support it.

 

[Captain Dirty]

Will a stump grinder go down 3 or 4feet? That's how deep the bulk of the stump will go. I didn't think they went that deep but I've always just dug stumps so I've never used one.

The European stump grinder is a sort of post hole auger on steroids (Home), (many u-tube videos also). Whether any are available for hire locally I do not know.

 

[Captain Dirty]

Link should be ferrirotor.com

 

[JerryK]

In my younger days, I took out big stumps like that by digging down underneath them and cutting the roots with an old chainsaw chain. Then dig a ramp and pull the stump out with a truck. It is not a one day job, but some thing you tackle here and there all summer when you feel like it. Now I have a backhoe, so I don't do much shoveling these days. I still recommend C-4 plastic explosive if you can round some up. The beauty of this method is that if you use enough, you will probably not have the stump still on your property when you are finished. Kill two birds with one stone.....

 

[Egon]

Big hoe!

 

[Citydude]

I was faced with the same dilima. I ended up hauling in top soil building a mound over the stump that was cut at ground level. Then planted a 6" tree right on top of the stump. The mound was landscaped with rock and shrubs. It turned out pretty nice.

 

[zski128]

I took down some large oaks on my property. I cut the stumps low and then cleared around the stump with my backhoe about 1-2 feet down clearing away large rocks and soil. I had someone come in with a large stump grinder and they where more than happy to grind up all I exposed. It was then very easy to clear the roots out afterward.