I've got about 10 acres of ground that I plan on building a house on in a few years. But, to do this right, I've got about 10-15 oak trees (full grown) that I'm going to sell for timber and remove the stumps so that I can plant new trees for our planned tree-lined driveway.

I know that when the roots and all finish rotting, they'll leave sinkholes, but I'm not planning on putting the driveway over any old stumps... Just around them. Then, I'll fill in the sinkholes later on and be done with it.

So, what is the best way to remove stumps?

Thanks for any insight!

Nightrain

 

If the truck cant yank it out then I do it the hard way.

I dig a trench around the stump, and hack the roots with my chainsaw. Once you dig deep enough, and sever enough roots, then the stump can be yanked with the truck. I hack the stump into pieces and use the pieces to help refill the hole.

 

Dig them out with the backhoe or shovel when you excavate for your driveway.

 

drill them full of holes(big ones) fill full of drain oil and let'em soak after a few soakins start a fire they'll burn down to nothin then hit'em with a mall to take care of whats left.ya might have to start a few fires in the stumps to get them out but heck it beats diggin

 

Thanks for the advice ya'll.

You fellers are dandys!!

Nightrain

 

Ten acres is too much to start messing around with stump grinders and chemicals. you need heavy equipment.

I'd get a hydraulic shovel in there for a day. It'll cost you but a good shovel can dig the driveway and pull your stumps as he goes. When he's done he can start digging for the house foundation. Get it all done in one shot. Then you'll have a gravel drive ready for the builders and the cement truck and all that.

When the house is finished, hire a backhoe to get the driveway ready for paving. While he's there you can have him clean up all the crap the builders leave behind, plant your new trees and fix the grade for landscaping.

 

Excavator is probably the best way to get rid of stumps, more hydraulic power than a backhoe of equivalent size and much more heavy duty for these kinds of actions. Plus you can get them with a hydraulic thumb. If you wanna do it yourself, just dig around the roots with the bucket, enough to expose them and wrench it out. Smaller excavators have blades mounted on the front so you can grade the mess over right after you have finished.

Not to mention, Excavators can traverse rougher terrain and are far more stable.

 

How about dynomite? Quick and easy.

 

I hear ya on the dynomite! Wish I could get ahold of some... lol.

There will be about 10-15 stumps (I haven't decided how many trees I'll need to cut) left. I'm starting to think of hiring it out and all at one time, as websthes suggested. I think it would be the easiest and possibly most cost-effective.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

Nightrain

 

I agree with the excavator but the one with a blade for grading is way to small for a job of 10 or 15 oak trees!
I'll give you a little advice from someone how has pulled many trees out.( Iv been a heavy equipment operator and in construction for about 28 years)
When you cut the tree leave 5 or 6 feet standing. When pulling big trees the more leverage you have the easier they will come out.

 

I had an excavator come in and take care of several stumps I had. One other advantage to that is they can dig a hole and bury the stumps on site if you don't care about the ground sinking a little later on.

 

It is illegal to bury them! Because of sink holes kids get lost in and Methane gases.

 

For one or two stumps, I'd say you should hire a stump grinder. But for the amount you are talking about, an excavator is the way to go.

Oak trees aren't common around here, so I don't know how deep the roots go, but I'd imagine you'll need to go down at least 10 feet. The bigger the machine, the faster and easier this will go.

 

I'd go the heavy equipt route, or deoending on size, stumpgrinder.

I had a guy with a BIG stump grinder grind my 42" dia stump out for 300 bucks

 

heres a pic of the grinder used on my tree http://www.fortjake.com/tree/DSCN0501.jpg