Stump removal from sidewalk tree well

Hi, I have a new stump where a sick tree was in front of my house. Big bummer. We’re eager to get a new tree in there soonest. We’ve been advised that waiting for the city to do it (for free) could take a year or more. We’d like to do it sooner, if possible, so I’m looking at DIY stump-removal techniques. I am considering a professional to do it, but it’s likely to be some hundreds of dollars, so I’ve spent the last half hour walking YouTube videos for DIY solutions. Various creative solutions, including digging/cutting it out (seems like that would be cramped in a tree well), burning it out and rotting it out with potassium nitrate (brand Spectracide). I’m thinking of starting with the potassium nitrate (you drill deep holes in it, pour the stuff in, water it over several days, and it accelerates decomposition, from what I gather reading the directions file:///home/chronos/user/Downloads/071121564207.pdf). Then, a few weeks/months hence, I’d try digging/chainsawing it out. Failing that, I’d probably call a professional before I’d risk the FDNY in burning it, but that does look like an effective technique. Wondering if anyone has experience or recommendations. One particular question: will the potassium nitrate mess up the soil and inhibit replanting of a new tree in the same place? The product package claims “Will not harm surrounding vegetation,” but I wonder.

crownheights12

in Landscaping 10 years and 9 months ago

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crownheights12 | 10 years and 9 months ago

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We already are on the waiting list for a new tree planting, but they advised us (the guy from the Parks Dept who cut down the tree) that it would likely be at least a year. That seems consistent with this NYT report: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/nyregion/in-new-york-a-backlog-of-tree-stump-removal.html Online, people complain they’ve been waiting several years for a replanting. I made some calls about paying for stump removal, and it’s likely to be several hundred bucks. I meanwhile drilled a bunch of deep holes into the stump, filled them with Stump Out and covered the stump with black contractor bags and a bag of compost to block the light in order to kill the stump, according to advice on YouTube. At this rate, we’ll see what condition it’s in come spring. Thanks for the tip on tree stewardship workshop. I’ll check it out if I have time.

brucef | 10 years and 9 months ago

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Just so you know, a tree company grinds the stump down in an hour or two using a towed behind … stump grinder. It’s not such a big job and it’s done and over with. Wheel usually goes about a foot below grade, as long as there isn’t any raised obstruction.

marie-helene | 10 years and 9 months ago

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First, I would recommend you take the free workshop for street tree stewardship. The next one at the BBG is on October 21st. http://www.bbg.org/greenbridge/street_trees Your options for DIY in sidewalk tree wells are very limited, and I really don’t recommend chainsawing, digging or (gasp!) burning. All these ideas are just tickets to trouble, and completely impractical in an urban environment. Potassium nitrate works to accelerate the decomposition through feeding the fungi that destroys dead wood. It will still take months, if not years, to get soft enough to plant a new tree. You might as well call 311 and get on the waitlist for a new tree.