stump removal advice

SnoFalls · Feb 13, 2006

( Your pictures have not shown how restricted the area is around the stump. The one that shows the rear end of a pickup shows a little how tight the area area is. Have you tried a come-along to another tree? )
yea ...

the water/power is buried under the bumper of the truck in that pic ... you can see the drain pipe I ripped up, and the proximity to the building ... septic tank just to the left of me in that pic.

KentT · Feb 13, 2006

If it were me, I'd put a chain and tension to it, so it couldn't fall on me... then get down in the hole with a shovel/pick and undercut it by hand. You haven't been able to do that with your backhoe, and it looks like you'll need to do that -- or get a larger piece of equipment -- to get it out.

Pull on one side of it with the chain and keep it snug -- then dig on the opposite side. Don't get in the hole with it unless something is holding it, though....

It's your life, so be careful... but that's what I would do....

SnoFalls · Feb 13, 2006

I agree that undercutting further is necessary.

In a few places, I can reach in quite far ... I might try getting a chain or cable fed through some sections, and maybe use that to yank free some roots/soil in the ball.

Paddy · Feb 14, 2006

Stump removal...after thought. I always leave as much log attached to a stump as I can. If you had 4-5' of log on that stump, she'd come right out.

I had a 12 " dia oak I needed out and didn't have my tractor yet. I dug down around it and cut all the major roots out 2'. I then put the extension ladder up in it to attach a rope at 15' off the ground. I then chained a large pc of log at the base as a fulcrum to pull it over. I gave a tug with the truck..as the tree came down it hit the fulcrum and riped the remaining roots out. The entire tree was laying down, root ball and all.

good luck, work safely and she will come out

SnoFalls · Feb 14, 2006

( Stump removal...after thought. I always leave as much log attached to a stump as I can. If you had 4-5' of log on that stump, she'd come right out. )
yea, but when harvested this was a money tree, so 4'-5' woulda been a waste ... sure woulda made things easier tho, I agree /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

MMM · Feb 14, 2006

A western red cedar must be built different from the eastern version. I wouldn't think there was much left if it were an eastern. They are shallow rooted around here and come up quite easily.
A tractor or semi rim should pop it out. Your force is applied more vertical and the rim acts as a fulcrum.

tlbuser · Feb 15, 2006

I'd be willing to bet the rest of the root ball looks the same as what is now visible. It won't budge until the root ball is undercut.
Locally, white cedar will topple easily. Red cedar can be a mess, much like what he's contending with.

dmccarty · Feb 15, 2006

SnoFalls,

Eddie and others have given you good advice. I have dug up a dozen or so trees this large with my JD 4700 and 48 Back Hoe. It can take time. The trees that have large root balls like yours seem to also have a long tap root as well. The last large stump, 36 inches across, had a tap root that was over 6 feet long. When I finally got it out the hole was deeper than I am tall. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

From the picture I can just make out the dipper on your BH. Looks like its about the same size as mine. On these large stumps I have had to dig around and under as much as possible. But the BH usually is too small to reach over and under these large stumps. So I would back fill the trench so I could get the tractor closer to get under the stump. Since the soil will be soft I would have to put in wood under the stablizers to keep the tractor from sinking when digging. A stop like this might take 8-16 hours especially if the soil is soft and wet.

The tap root I mentioned was large and finally was tappering off to about an inch think at 6 feet. I was finally able to break that off and get the stump out of the hole. I have had to cut ramps into some of the holes since the stumps have been too heavy to lift out with the FEL. Some have been too heavy to lift at all and I had to drag them out with a chain.

My two cents would be to fill in on one side to get the tractor in closer, the BH should be sitting over the stump if possible and start undercutting the stump. With the tight spot you are in you should also be able to get the tractor to the side of the stump and dig 90 degrees away from the tractor. Not optimum but it might allow you to fit the space.

Later,
Dan

MMM · Feb 15, 2006

I've tackled quite a few monster red cedars on my place and there is no tap root, period. In fact, I doubt there was a single root that was 3' below surface. I was surprised and pleased how easily they come up. A white cedar could differ.

SnoFalls · Feb 15, 2006

thx for all the help everyone ... it'll probably be a while till I get back to it since winter decided to finally show up with 2-3" of snow and temps in the teens ...

LBrown59 · Feb 15, 2006

( thx for all the help everyone ... it'll probably be a while till I get back to it since winter decided to finally show up with 2-3" of snow and temps in the teens ...

)

60 degrees here today so i removed several stumps with my bx23.
We only have 13 days of winter left.

LarryD · Feb 15, 2006

It's cold allright SnoFalls, but we haven't seen snow yet up here yet.

I've been helping the neighbor pull out some stumps as well but his <5" alder stumps are nothing close to your old growth cedar. I can tell you when I had part of my property cleared of the logging slash, the EX-200 was replaced with an EX-300 for a day to pull some 24"+ stumps. The 200 would have done it but since I was paying, faster was better. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

tlbuser · Feb 16, 2006

( I've tackled quite a few monster red cedars on my place and there is no tap root, period. )

I didn't claim there was a tap root. Just a bigger ball of roots that has not been cut yet!

SnoFalls · Feb 25, 2006

Success!

some hand digging found 4 roots (about 4" each) going straight down that I couldn't undercut. wrapped a chain and yanked those then some massaging got the suction broke free.

thx for the advice folks ... the tight quarters made it a PITA, but once it came free, rollin it out wasn't too bad.

escavader · Feb 25, 2006

The victor poses for the money shot.congrats
ALAN

tlbuser · Feb 27, 2006

Cool. Congratulations. Now, what about the other one in your bottom photo /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

CurlyDave · Feb 27, 2006

The victor poses for the money shot.

Why do I think I would have been coated in mud after doing that.

Do I detect a shower and a change of clothes?

SnoFalls · Feb 27, 2006

( Now, what about the other one in your bottom photo /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )
That big sucker is staying! Call it "erosion control" or "landscape interest" ...

there is a line of 4-5 stumps along the edge of the dropoff that I'll "landscape around" (all in the name of "erosion control" of course.

At least that's "my story and I'm stickin to it" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ryno1 · Feb 27, 2006

SnoFalls, I have the same type of "erosion control" in parts of my yard. Actually convinced the boss that leaving stumps from waist to chest high was a good thing. She uses them for bird feeders, potted plants, and various other decorative items

tlbuser · Feb 28, 2006

( ( Now, what about the other one in your bottom photo /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )
That big sucker is staying! Call it "erosion control" or "landscape interest" ...

At least that's "my story and I'm stickin to it" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

Come on, you need the challenge more than yucky "landscape interest". Where's the thrill of victory in just setting a potted plant on a stump? After removing the stumps, you could break out the welder and powder coater to create some "yard art" in colors see chooses. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif