You can cut out a large cavity (about half the diameter, but at least four
inches of trunk left all the way around) in the stump and fill it with
charcoal, and set it afire. Under most conditions, the tree and large roots
will burn slowly from the inside out. You might later get a nice crop of
morels in some areas. If it stops burning, add more charcoal. There should
be no flame, just glowing hellfire. Protect the area from children and other
curious critters; it may take a day or more, depending upon how deep you
want to go. When it's deep enough. I've seen big tree roots burn as far down
as six or eight feet. It may take a lot of water to cool it down completely.
If the outside of the stump fails to burn to within a couple of inches of
the bark, you may have to mechanically cut it away from the inside. You also
can do more burning, but usually it will burn all the way to the bark, as
the heat dries out the fuel ahead of the burning core, as it progresses down
and out.
WT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Creary" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2013 8:42 AM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Tree stump removal in sensitive area
Does anyone have any experience removing tree stumps from very sensitive
areas? We have a botanically important planting around a tree that we
need
to remove for safety reasons, but we cannot leave an unsightly stump in
the
process. However, the traditional grinders or pick-axe method won't work
as it would destroy the surrounding plantings. Does anyone know of a way
to remove stumps or decompose them quickly such that the area is
plant-able
soon after tree removal (a year or so)?
I'm going out on a limb with this, but I feel that managed areas are
sometimes the most ecologically important, especially in a highly urban
environment like where we are.
Thanks much!
--
Scott Creary, M.S. Entomology, ISA Certified Arborist
IPM Specialist
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
www.phipps.conservatory.org
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