Killing small tree stumps

Jean Staffen

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Mar 28, 2004, 9:49:35 AM3/28/04

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I am going to assemble a garden shed in my back yard in a spot that is
presently occupied by three small trees. The trees are volunteers and about
6' high. Castorbeans I think. Here's my plan: Cut them down as low as
possible. Cover stumps with water softener salt (rock salt) and them upend
coffee cans over the stumps. The floor of the shed will cover the stumps
and I'm thinking that the salt and lack of sun will kill the stumps.

Will this work?

Victor Martinez

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Mar 28, 2004, 10:31:51 AM3/28/04

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Jean Staffen wrote:
> Will this work?

I wouldn't add salt. There are specialty stump removers for sale.

--
Victor Martinez
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Email me here: pistor...@BOXaustin.rr.com

Jim Marrs

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Mar 28, 2004, 1:23:05 PM3/28/04

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If in fact these trees are castorbeans ( not really trees), they will be
very easy to remove. Castorbeans have a relative shallow root system and a
few digs with a shovel should be enough to take them out. Or as an
alternative. just cut them down at the base, they will not resprout.
"Jean Staffen" <jsta...@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
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Jean Staffen

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Mar 29, 2004, 10:46:30 AM3/29/04

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I found out they are not castorbeans, but some kind of Chinese elm or
something. They have varigated trunks - that look like a girafe's coat. I
have taken out 2 of them and they had taproots a good 3" thick. I've cut
down the biggest one and plan to treat it with the salt anyway, just in
case.

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John T. Jarrett

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Mar 29, 2004, 11:49:24 AM3/29/04

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If you have a few weekends inbetween the cutting and the building, I'd
suggest a pile of charcoal on each every few days or over each
weekend. Freshen it up with an extra handful when it starts burning
down...We had cigar trees in our back yard and no amount of anything
(including RoundUp which I hated even trying) worked...but the
charcoal on the stumps did!

You just have to keep an eye on it...

John

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Steven

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Mar 30, 2004, 12:17:24 AM3/30/04

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I rented a stump grinder for a few hours and shredded about 10 stumps
of different tree species. All of them are history.

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Ron M.

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Mar 30, 2004, 1:05:35 PM3/30/04

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"Jean Staffen" <jsta...@austin.rr.com> wrote in message news:<3CB9c.119941$u_5....@fe2.texas.rr.com>...

Jeez. Just drill a good hole in the stump, straight down through the
middle - the deeper the better - I used a 12 inch drill bit, a 3/8" I
recall. Get a good herbicide like Kleenup and pour it into the hole.
If it's a big stump, like a foot across or something, drill 3 or 4
holes. Gasoline would probably work, too, but the enviro-weenies will
squeal about it if they find out.

It's not really necessary, but if you want to, just for good measure,
paint the top of the stump as well. That black tar-like stuff made for
painting pruned tree limbs is good - I forget exactly what it's
called, pruning paint or something like that.

Ron M.

John T. Jarrett

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Mar 31, 2004, 9:18:44 PM3/31/04

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What did it cost you and where did you find one? I pulled out the
yellow pages but none of the local "rental companies" had one...

John

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