How best to excavate this stump?

Fuddy1952 · Sep 1, 2018

I have a few (stupid?) ideas. I see foliage on the left, is the right ok or dead? It looks like the trunk and root system is ok...what about grafting onto it?
I would be tempted to save it.

Diggin It · Sep 1, 2018

^^ Yeah, we haven't really asked about condition. If it's hollow and full of ants, beetles or termites, that scraps most of the ideas. It could break up and come out pretty easy.

Deere Dude · Sep 1, 2018

I don't know your time frame on removal, but why not cut it down to close to ground level and burn it up. It should burn fairly easy if it is almost dead.

David Wayne · Sep 1, 2018

Doesn't a one foot DBH tree require a good size hole to plant?
Dig the stump, add a little dirt and plant the new tree.

Luke'sScreenName · Sep 1, 2018

Diggin It said:
^^ Yeah, we haven't really asked about condition. If it's hollow and full of ants, beetles or termites, that scraps most of the ideas. It could break up and come out pretty easy.

No, the upper stump will not be solid wood. There's a water seep and rot split down the middle of the other side.

Coyote machine · Sep 1, 2018

I'd get a local qualified Arborist to look at the tree and see if he or someone he knows has a large, fairly new stump grinder with sharp teeth. Have the tree cut down, you or someone else cut it flush with the grade. Have stump grinder cut until you can break out what remains with your hoe, or mini-ex rental, borrow?
Plant a new specimen tree with the correct mix of soil for it to take to the ground before winter.
Done.

Diggin It · Sep 1, 2018

JerryK said:
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.....

Bang. Zoom. Straight to the Moon!!!

One of these days.

hayden · Sep 1, 2018

That actually looks diggable to me. But maybe the photo is misleading.

TractorGuy · Sep 1, 2018

Just dig it out with your hoe. If it has a spreading root structure you may have to dig around them and cut them off to avoid the pavement but you can do it with some time and care.