Trees: stump removal and treatment / RHS Gardening (2024)

Tree stumps can be left in the ground after felling but this can lead to problems with suckering where new shoots arise from the trunk and roots.

Completely dead stumps won't form suckers, but they can play host to root diseases such as honey fungus, so aren't worth leaving in and taking the risk.

The RHS believes that avoiding pests, diseases and weeds by good practice in cultivation methods, cultivar selection, garden hygiene and encouraging or introducing natural enemies, should be the first line of control. If chemical controls are used, they should be used only in a minimal and highly targeted manner.

Tree stumps can be physically removed any time. Paying tree surgeons to remove stumps when they are felling the tree is the most convenient way to remove stumps.

Physical stump removal

This is the best solution. Ideally the stump should be removed entirely, but if this is not possible alternative methods usually give satisfactory results.

For smaller trees the stumps can be pulled out with a winch. These can be hired by gardeners with the knowledge to use them safely. For leverage it is necessary to leave a good sized stub on the stump (up to 1.2m (4ft) high) rather than cutting it off at ground level.

Grubbing out by hand or mechanical mini-excavator removes the majority of the root system. Removal is easiest if trees are cut down so that a significant length of trunk remains to give leverage to help in removal. Landscape contractors are often skilled at stump removal, but you can hire mini-excavators and operators separately.

Alternatively, machines known as stump grinders will mechanically grind out the main root plate, leaving fine sawdust. Although stump grinders can be hired, they are potentially hazardous and are only for gardeners confident that they can use machinery safely. Some roots will inevitably be left in the ground but the majority should eventually rot down.

It is worth specifying how deep you would like the stump ground to. Shallow grinding, 20-25cm (8-10in), is normally sufficient for laying turf, but you should allow for deeper, 30cm (1ft), or more if replanting or landscaping. Also think about what you want to do with the sawdust. It can be left to fill in the hole, used as mulch in other areas of the garden, or taken away by the contractors. Specify which of these you would prefer before the work is started and be sure to have any diseased wood removed completely.

Should youlike to replant the area it is best to remove the bulk of the sawdust and fill the hole created bystump grinding with topsoil.If a largeamountof sawdustwasaccidentallymixed with theexisting soil itis usually worth adding nitrogenous fertiliser prior to planting to counteract possible problems with nutrient lockup.For example, consider mixing inchicken manure pellets or sulphate of ammonia.

Methods to avoid

We do not recommend burning down stumps in situ. They are usually too wet for this. Applying nitrate fertilisers also does not improve their burning qualities, or speed up rotting, even though these fertilisers are oxidising agents.

The RHS does not support the use of weedkillers/stump killersand recommends that alternativemethods are used. However, we do note that when gardeners struggle to remove stumps, regulated weedkillers/pesticides for home gardeners are available for use legally. Garden centres and large retailers selling weedkillers have trained staff who can advise on suitable products for your needs.

Other than stump removal being hard work or time consuming, there are no particular problems. But you might notice signs ofhoney fungusor problems with suckers and seedlings.