How to Remove a Tree Stump

Drill holes in the stump, which you'll fill with your chosen chemicals in the next step. Use the largest woodboring drill bit you have available and drill holes as deep as you can. Drill the holes close together.

First, fill the drilled holes with water from your hose. Then, fill the holes with stump remover granules, Epsom salt, potassium nitrate or another fertilizer with a high concentration of nitrogen.

Soak the ground all around the tree stump with water until it's saturated.

Cover the stump and the area immediately around it with a tarp to help trap the moisture and accelerate the stump’s rotting process. Then, cover the tarp with mulch and saturate the mulch with your hose. The heavy wet mulch should weigh the tarp down enough that it won’t blow away. You can also use some heavy stones or cement blocks to hold it down.

Over the next four to six weeks, check on the stump and add more chemicals and water as needed. Always cover the stump with the tarp, cover the tarp with mulch and saturate the mulch with water.

After four to six weeks, the stump should have broken down enough to become spongey. If the stump is still firm, repeat the above steps. Once the stump has grown soft, you can use an axe to remove it in large portions.

Using your shovel, remove the dirt you loosened with the mattock so you can see the roots attached to the stump. A hose or a pressure washer can be useful here to help clear away excess dirt and allow you to get a better view of the roots.

Sever the roots with the mattock or hand pruning saw so they're no longer holding the stump.

Continue to dig and chop until you reach the tree’s taproot. Clear an area around the taproot so that you have access to it. Use your hose, pressure washer or a wet rag to clean excess dirt off the taproot before you cut it.

Use an axe to chop through the taproot. Make sure the area is clear of other people, pets and objects before you swing the axe. Aim carefully so you’re not striking dirt, which can dull the blade. If you’re not confident using an axe, it’s safer to use a bow saw or other pruning saw to sever roots because you’ll have greater control. Using a saw may require more digging to expose more of the roots.

When you’ve cut through the taproot, you can shift the tree stump and pull it out of the topsoil. Depending on the size and weight of your stump, you may need ropes, chains, helpers or even a utility vehicle to pull it from the ground.