Tree stumps are unsightly annoyances for many homeowners, but they can be removed through various methods, such as natural landscaping removal techniques, chemicals, and physical removal. Tree trunks are unlikely to die on their own. Instead, they continue to live, constantly sprouting new plants.

These new shoots are a result of the extended root system, which often still thrives underground even after the tree has been cut down. The most challenging tree stumps to get rid of are often black locusts, maples, cottonwoods, Russian olives, Lombardy poplar trees, and the tree of heaven.

In this article, you’ll learn about the following ways to kill a tree stump and more:

  • Natural tree stump removal methods
  • Physical tree stump removal methods
  • Chemicals for tree stump removal

    Natural Tree Stump Removal Methods

    Here are some lawn care home remedies that you can use to take care of the tree stump while avoiding the need for physical or chemical removal steps.

    Epsom Salt

    Epsom salt is a great DIY method for killing off tree stumps because it speeds up the decomposition process. Typically, a tree stump takes three to seven years to die off naturally. However, you can speed up this process to 6–12 months with Epsom salt.

    Epsom salt contains sulfur and magnesium, which are healthy minerals for plants but are fatal in large doses. To use Epsom salt to kill a tree stump, take pure Epsom salt and water to create a potent mixture. Then, drill at least a dozen deep holes, about 1″ wide and 10″ deep, directly into the stump.

    Pour the Epsom salt mixture into the drilled holes and cover the stump with a tarp to prevent rain from washing the mixture away. Repeat this process once a month to poison the stump and its roots.

    When successful, the stump should be dead within 2–3 months and fully decayed after a year.

    Forced Darkness

    I recommend the forced darkness method if you’re looking for an easy and inexpensive way to kill a tree stump. Tree stumps need sunlight to continue growing, and preventing sunlight from reaching the tree stump will eventually kill it.

    Cover the tree stump with a light-resistant cover, like an opaque trash bag, plastic bag, or thick tarp. Your chosen cover should be made of a waterproof material.

    This technique is easy and inexpensive. However, it can take more than 6 months for your tree stump to die off, and your yard will have an unsightly tarp present the whole time, so take that into consideration when choosing this method to kill your tree stump.

    Boiling Water

    Boiling water can shock the root system, resulting in intense damage and eventual death. This method is excellent because it’s reasonably fast and inexpensive.

    Start by uncovering as much of the tree stump’s root structure as you can. Then, drill holes in the roots and on top of the stump to expose the tree stump to the boiling water. Once the roots are exposed and your holes are drilled, pour boiling water on top of them.

    The boiling hot water will shock the tree stump and its root system, resulting in severe damage and eventual death. After the stump dies, natural decomposition will begin.

    Rock Salt

    Rock salt is similar to table salt, but much less refined and comes in large chunks. The rock salt method is similar to using Epsom salt to kill a tree stump. However, rock salt can be harmful to plants near the tree stump, so I recommend only using rock salt after other methods have failed.

    To use rock salt to kill a tree stump, start by drilling holes into the tree stump. Then, pack the holes with rock salt and cover the stump with rock salt. Add a thick layer of soil and mulch on top of the stump, then pour water on top of the soil and mulch layer.

    The water will help the rock salt dissolve and encourage fungi growth, accelerating the tree stump’s decay.

    For this method, continue watering the stump every couple of days for the first month or two to keep the tree stump damp and ideal for fungus growth.

    Read also: Organic Ways for Lawn Care

    Physical Tree Stump Removal Methods

    If you’re looking for a faster, more direct approach to killing your tree stump, here are some of the most popular physical tree stump removal methods.

    Digging

    Digging a tree stump out of your yard is effective but hard, time-consuming work that can destroy your yard or garden in the process.

    When you dig out a tree stump, you’ll also need to remove the tree roots, which can be deeply buried and widespread throughout your yard. If you choose this technique, I strongly recommend hiring a professional or renting digging equipment to help you complete the job, as this can be back-breaking work.

    To dig out a tree stump, start digging around the stump and find as many roots as possible. Then, use a hatchet, handsaw, or chainsaw to chop the more extensive roots. You can cut smaller roots with loppers or clippers. After dealing with all the roots, you should be able to lift the tree stump out of the ground.

    Afterward, repair your yard by filling the large hole with dirt and covering it with mulch or topsoil.

    Burning

    Burning is a quick and cost-effective way to get rid of an unsightly stump sitting in your yard. However, this method can be dangerous and is illegal in some areas due to fire codes. So, if you plan on burning your tree stump, first check with your local regulations, then assess how safe it will be for you to burn the tree stump. If you have many nearby plants, this will not be the ideal method for you.

    If you choose to burn the tree stump, start by clearing any plants, leaves, brush, and other flammable materials away from your stump. Then, using a drill bit, drill several holes into the stump. Every hole should be at least 2″ wide and 8″ deep, even deeper if you have a tall stump. These holes will allow fire to burn deep into your stump.

    Next, drench each hole with kerosene to ensure the fire reaches the bottom of the stump. Place flammable materials, like scrap wood, wood chips, or leaves on the surface of the stump and ignite them to begin the fire.

    Continue adding flammable materials to the top of the stump until you have a healthy fire, then wait for the fire to turn the stump into ashes. This process could take several hours, and the stump must be monitored the entire time to make sure that the fire doesn’t spread. I recommend keeping a fire extinguisher on hand during this process.

    After the stump turns to ashes, allow it to cool, then remove the ashes. Fill the hole where the stump once was with soil and mulch.

    Grinding

    Out of all the methods we’re talking about today, stump grinding is probably the fastest way to get rid of a tree stump. However, you’ll need to rent a stump grinder or hire a tree removal specialist to complete this work, which may cost you several hundred dollars.

    If you choose to grind the tree stump yourself, begin the process by trimming the stump as much as possible with a chainsaw, then dig around the stump and remove all visible rocks.

    Next, use the stump grinder machine to wear the wood away and chop any roots still connected to the stump. Keep in mind that this process can take many hours depending on your tools, general fitness, and the stump’s size. After removing the stump, fill the hole in with dirt and top with mulch or topsoil.

    Exhausting the Tree’s Food Reserves

    One way to physically kill the tree stump is by exhausting the tree’s food reserves. This method may take years, depending on how large the tree was and its current health. If you continue cutting the tree’s sprouts off, you can eventually exhaust the tree’s food reserves, resulting in the tree’s death. This method is effective, but you must be very consistent and immediately remove all spouts for this technique to work.

    Chemicals for Tree Stump Removal

    Here are some of the best chemical stump killers for tree stump removal:

    • Tree stump remover: Purchase a tree stump remover product for the best results. Many tree stump killer products have potassium nitrate, which naturally reduces the decaying process to as little as 4–6 weeks. These products are designed to be safer for the environment. You can easily find them at your local garden supply store or on Amazon.
    • Insecticide-based tree stump removers: If your dead stump is from a freshly cut tree, try a tree stump remover that uses insecticides to kill and limit sucker regrowth. Apply this product immediately after a fresh cut so it absorbs into the stem and roots quickly.

    Please make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely when using any chemical product to remove large stumps.

    Chemicals You Should Never Use for Tree Stump Removal

    • Bleach: Bleach presents many dangers to the environment surrounding the tree stump because it’s not meant to be a herbicide. A high concentration of bleach may kill the tree stump. However, nearby flowers, grass, trees, and shrubs may also be exposed to the high levels of chlorine found in bleach. Bleach can also raise the pH levels of the soil, which will damage your surrounding plants. 
    • Diesel: Diesel may be a tempting option if you’re considering burning your tree stump. However, it’s not ideal for creating the long, consistent burn needed to kill the tree stump. 
    • Motor oil: Motor oil is not designed for killing tree stumps. Not only this, but the cost of motor oil is comparable to many stump killers, so you wouldn’t be saving money or time. 
    • Weed killer: Weed killer is not designed to kill tree stumps and should be used as intended. 

    4 Ways to Kill Trees That Don’t Work

    • Foliar Spray: This option only helps kill the foliage, not the branches or the stump.
    • Chopping It Down: Chopping the tree down will not cause the stump to break down. The stump will still be present, but with no tree.
    • Copper Nails: Copper nails can kill a small sapling, but not a large tree.
    • Jab of a Knife: A jab of a knife will not kill a tree, since the tree has taken many years to grow to its full size. Cutting it with a knife might damage it, but the tree will heal again and grow back.

    These options can certainly help begin the process of killing the tree, but will not cause it to die.

    Frequently Asked Questions: How to Kill a Tree Stump

    What is the fastest way to get rid of a tree stump?

    The best way to remove a tree stump depends on your needs. The fastest option will be a physical tree stump removal method, such as burning, grinding, or digging. These methods will remove the stump within a day, especially if you rent professional equipment to get the job done quickly.

    Digging and grinding require specialty tools, ultimately removing the dead tree stump and its roots entirely from the ground. On the other hand, burning the tree stump will kill the plant itself and allow you to remove its ashes. Just check your local laws before trying to burn a tree stump.

    What is the cheapest way to remove a tree stump?

    The cheapest way to remove a tree stump is to use forced darkness, otherwise known as starving the tree stump of sunlight.

    A tree stump needs sunlight to thrive. Covering it with an opaque, waterproof tarp or garbage bag will prevent the tree stump from getting sunlight, causing it to die relatively quickly. Other cheap ways to remove a tree stump include burning it or using boiling water to shock and kill the root system.

    What is the average cost of professional tree stump removal?

    The average cost of professional tree stump removal ranges from $200 to $500, depending on where you live, the size of your tree stump, the type of tree, and the method used.

    How long does it take to remove a stump?

    The time it takes to remove tree stumps depends on the method you’re using. Grinding or digging the tree stump out may only take one day, depending on how large the stump is, the equipment used, and how extensive its root system is. Consider hiring a tree stump removal professional if you’re looking for the fastest results.

    Natural methods, like Epsom salt or forced darkness, are effective but take months to kill the tree stump off fully. Chemical tree stump removers can accelerate the process and usually take four to six weeks.

    Can a tree grow from a stump?

    Yes, a tree can grow from a stump, which is why you must act quickly to kill the tree stump if you don’t want the tree to grow back. Regrowth can happen because a tree stump can still receive nutrients from its many roots, resulting in a tree growing from the sprouts around the stump.

    Will pouring bleach on a tree stump kill it?

    If you pour enough bleach on a tree stump, it will die. However, bleach will also kill off any surrounding plants and throw off the soil’s pH balance. I do not recommend this method.

    Final Thoughts

    Tree stumps can be an eyesore in your otherwise beautiful yard. I hope our article on killing a tree stump gave you some great ideas on how you can go about killing the tree stump using a simple and easy technique. Don’t forget to consider what you may want to plant in place of the tree stump after it’s removed, If you decide to plant something else, we encourage to perform a soil texture test on the soil.

    Article Update Log
    9/15/2023
    Reviewed for accuracy, cost data, industry best practices, and expert advice by Coty Perry.
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    Elisabeth Beauchamp

    Senior Staff Writer

    Elisabeth Beauchamp is a content producer for Today’s Homeowner’s Lawn and Windows categories. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in Journalism and Linguistics. When Elisabeth isn’t writing about flowers, foliage, and fertilizer, she’s researching landscaping trends and current events in the agricultural space. Elisabeth aims to educate and equip readers with the tools they need to create a home they love.

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    Coty Perry

    Expert Writer & Reviewer

    Coty Perry is a lawn and garden writer for Today’s Homeowner. He focuses on providing homeowners with actionable tips that relate to the “Average Joe” who is looking to achieve a healthier and greener lawn. When he isn’t writing he can almost always be found coaching youth football or on some trail in Pennsylvania in search of the next greatest fishing hole.

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