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.

 

[karmakanic]

I almost got the dozer a couple of times,,,had to chip away for quite a while with the backhoe to break the stump up. The winch would of yanked it outa there pronto. But I have been informed that dozer tracks and daffodils are incompatible by someone who has more seniority then me.

Dave

 

[DarinRay]

Good point Dave. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Darin

 

[karmakanic]

Those are some good hints beenthere,,,sounds like your handle's very appropriate,,,I think I will just dig down some more and bury the next stump. I don't worry about rocks, nothing but red clay and shale here.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Thomas]

Dave..since you got the nack for stump removeal,how about trying your hand on a big Elm stump I have /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif and the coffee & donuts are on me. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Just how long did it take to remove the stump in the garden?

 

[ronjhall]

Dave
My wife has some large buried rocks in the front yard she thinks should be moved. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif Showed her your wife’s picture. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif She is having second thoughts about moving them with our 2910. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Boondox]

Hey, Dave! Where'd all the flowers go? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Looks nice from a guy perspective, but sure as heck my wife would not like all that bare earth!

Pete

 

[MikePA]

Ron,

I was just going to suggest that you talk to Pete about taking rocks out and here he is. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[gmason]

Shoot, looks like you were well on the way to having a(nother) basement dug.
Did you ever determine what kind of tree it was???

I've seen gum tree stumps that lasted many years almost like they were cut yesterday, no decay at all.

gary

 

[gotrocks]

Hey, if someone knows how to contact Kubota headquarters, tell them to quit spending money with pro. photographers and posed pictures. Put Dave's project on the next brochure. Let prospective customers see some real time action.
My wife loves daffodils too, est. 1500 2000 at least.
Thanks Dave I enjoyed (drooling) over your BH presentation.
It should be nominated for and Oscar at least.

 

[karmakanic]

Thanks for the invite Thomas. Warm up the coffee, I'll climb on the tractor and head on out. Should arrive in NH around spring of 03. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Seriously, it took about 4 hours to get it out, broken up into two days cause we had a little cloud buster come thru about the time I got the hole dug. But, as we all know, time stands still whenever you're on tractor time, so it won't count toward my total allotment anyway. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Dave