From: bamboo@localnet.com (Beecrofter)
Newsgroups: alt.home.repair misc.consumers.house rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Above-ground Stump removal ideas needed
Date: 27 Sep 2004 14:07:17 -0700

turnkey4099@hotmail.com (Harry K) wrote in message news:<751f8d35.0409270637.6829f62c@posting.google.com>...
> "Tony"  wrote in message news:...
> > I live near Pensacola, FL, and recently experienced Hurricane Ivan. 
> > Fortunately my home had minor damage, but my yard which I had invested much 
> > effort in landscaping these past few months has been decimated.
> > 
> > The biggest problem I face is figuring out the best way to handle the 
> > removal of two root balls from trees uprooted by the storm.  The smaller 
> > root ball sits above the ground and is about 4' in diameter.  The larger 
> > root ball is about 6' in diameter.  I have already cut up the trunk portion 
> > of both trees.
> > 
> > I'm assuming that having the root balls lifted out of the yard by crane 
> > would be very expensive.  Having them dragged out by tractor or similar 
> > device would likely damage a large portion of the yard (and the underground 
> > sprinkler system).  I could have them ground, but I'm not sure if it is 
> > possible for a stump grinder to work on a root ball that sits totally about 
> > ground and is laying on its side.
> > 
> > Can anyone suggest anything I could do to best remove these?  I don't want 
> > to take a chain saw to them because of the massive amount of clay-rich soil 
> > embedded in the roots.  I had contemplated using a hose to try and wash the 
> > soil away from the rootball a bit at a time.  I'm not sure if this would 
> > really even be feasible, though.
> > 
> > Any suggestions on what to do with these would be greatly appreciated.
> > 
> > Tony
> 
> I read through the thread and don't really see any suggestions that
> you can use except for possibly burning.  My approach would be a
> comgination of some of them.  Pressure washer to get as much dirt as
> possible off, chain saw to cut them into chunks you can move.
> 
> No, cutting up the dirty root balls will not destroy your saw.  It
> will destroy your chain, bar, drive sprocket and possibly the clutch. 
> These are easily replaceable and not that expensive. Even just
> pitching the saw away at the end of the job will be cheaper than any
> other method (except burning)  You will also be sharpening the chain
> several times while working.
> 
> This is one of those jobs that will cost money (unless you can burn
> them in place).  Some jobs just can't be done 'on the cheap'.
> 
> Harry K

The only way I can think of doing it on the cheap is to dig a bigger
hole and roll them in. Let the termites take care of them.