Landscaping/DIY-ish question

[Snapdragon]

We had a couple of trees removed last year, and since the landscapers basically threw in the tree removal with another job, they did not grind the stumps. One of the stumps is smack in the middle of the front yard, so I was thinking about hollowing it out to about 5-6" deep and planting annuals in it. I'm pretty handy and have a decent selection of hand/power tools, but I'm not sure what would be the best thing to use. Anybody got an idea better than a hammer and chisel?

 

[hoosierdoc]

Big drill bit and drill all around, then just break it all to connect, repeat to desired depth?

i left a similar stump at the MIL's house, planning to add a bird bath

 

[Suprtek]

Another option would be to build a planting box around it. Covering it with dirt and watering it often will have it rotted away in a couple years at the most. Especially if you drill a bunch of holes in it first.

 

[IndyGunworks]

^^^ this... and in the holes you drill pour in a bunch of potassium nitrate... you can get the pure stuff on ebay cheap.

 

[Naptown]

Just go buy 100 lbs of lime, a shovel, and rubber gloves all in the same transaction. Let us know how it works out...

 

[Ericpwp]

I had a huge tree removed from my back yard, 4+ feet diameter. They only ground the stump level. This did not help when needing to run the electrical to my garage. I tried digging, drilling, chopping, sawing, and anything else you can think of. I ended up renting a giant manual stump grinder, not the home depot one. It was something I should have started with. If you could live with it as is, I would. As soon as you hit the dirt with a blade, it dulls. The grinder did the job. I also tried burning, but the proximity to the fence prevented the bonfire I needed.

 

[sparky241]

I took the bottom out of an old smoker and burned the stump out

 

[IndyGunworks]

I had a huge tree removed from my back yard, 4+ feet diameter. They only ground the stump level. This did not help when needing to run the electrical to my garage. I tried digging, drilling, chopping, sawing, and anything else you can think of. I ended up renting a giant manual stump grinder, not the home depot one. It was something I should have started with. If you could live with it as is, I would. As soon as you hit the dirt with a blade, it dulls. The grinder did the job. I also tried burning, but the proximity to the fence prevented the bonfire I needed.

bonfires and stumps are not near as effective as most think.... I would take a 55 gallon drum and cut the top and bottom off, and start a fire in it... burn all the scraps and cardboard and other junk you can find... clean out the ash's every once in a while to keep the stump exposed..... this will keep the heat on and keep it smoldering for ALOT longer after the fire is out.

 

[Snapdragon]

I'm not trying to get rid of the stump--just hollow it out. Hoosierdoc, I'll look into the drill bit thing. Even if I have to chisel by hand, it will help to drill as many holes as possible first.

 

[IndyGunworks]

I'm not trying to get rid of the stump--just hollow it out. Hoosierdoc, I'll look into the drill bit thing. Even if I have to chisel by hand, it will help to drill as many holes as possible first.

Stumps are about TWICE as dense as regular wood... I tried to do exactly what you are talking about doing and i couldn't get any holes deeper than about 6 inch's.... after about 6 holes my spade bit was toast

 

[Snapdragon]

Stumps are about TWICE as dense as regular wood...

How does that work? Seems like tree trunk above the cut and tree trunk below the cut would be the same density?

 

[17 squirrel]

Here is a grinding wheel that has a chainsaw chain on it. I have seen the guys who carve animals from logs use them.

Lancelot 22 Tooth Chain Saw Blade for 4 1/2 inch angle grinders by King Arthur's Tools

 

[Dead Duck]

Tannerite

 

[Snapdragon]

Here is a grinding wheel that has a chainsaw chain on it. I have seen the guys who carve animals from logs use them.

Lancelot 22 Tooth Chain Saw Blade for 4 1/2 inch angle grinders by King Arthur's Tools

That's not a bad idea. I could try my angle grinder without the $45 chainsaw blade first, and if it doesn't work, I may break down and buy the blade.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Here is a grinding wheel that has a chainsaw chain on it. I have seen the guys who carve animals from logs use them.

Lancelot 22 Tooth Chain Saw Blade for 4 1/2 inch angle grinders by King Arthur's Tools

I was going to suggest a chain saw but this might work better.

Snapdragon, I don't know if a stump is denser than the rest of the tree but the grain certainly isn't as straight and as well behaved as you would find in the trunk. I've chopped out several small stumps with an axe--you'd be surprised how much work that it is on a stump no more than 6-8" in diameter.

 

[17 squirrel]

Stumps are about TWICE as dense as regular wood... I tried to do exactly what you are talking about doing and i couldn't get any holes deeper than about 6 inch's.... after about 6 holes my spade bit was toast

LOL***, Ahhh. That's because you were drilling into end grain.
Oh and your wife called, She said more like 4 inchs.

 

[Ericpwp]

If you are using a large drill bit, you will need a drill with lots of torque. As soon as the bit hits dirt, it will need a sharpening. I like the idea of a planter bed over it, if it becomes too much work.

 

[Snapdragon]

6 inches is enough. I'll use my old electric Craftsman drill rather than the cordless.

 

[Suprtek]

If you really want to keep the stump there, why not just make a few holes big enough to plant the flowers instead of hollowing out the entire thing? It would get the same result with a lot less work.

 

[Ericpwp]

My cordless has more torque the my corded. YMMV