Author Topic: killing tree stumps?  (Read 11972 times)

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Offline cruisindub

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killing tree stumps?
« on: April 23, 2012, 09:59:44 AM »
Hi all,

I have two pine trees, conifer types I think, that I am cutting down. Planted too close to house and roots are causing issues.
What's the beat way to kill the stumps/roots?

Have googled loads, and the searches come up with anumber of suggestions.

But, what I would like to know is, what's the my swaggers tried and tested, (and simple) method.?

Thanks all in advance.
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Offline jtraf

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2012, 10:05:31 AM »
I have in the past simply drilled a few holes in the top of the stump with a 1in wood bit about 100mm deep.  Then filled the holes with the Brunnings Glyphosate weed killer you can buy from from Bunnings for about $10 a litre.

If you do it immediatly after you have cut the tree down it absorbs the poison very quickly.......After the holes empty fill them a second time and that will do it.  Quick, Easy and efficent way to stop them continue to grow and cause further issues.

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Offline Big Nath

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2012, 10:09:14 AM »
I have just Ask my agronomist and he said use Glypho (round up). however go to a landmark/crt and get some "real" glypho. the stuff you get from Bunnings/Mitre 10 is 100g/1LT of the active, while the CT (cultivational tillage) round up is 450G/Lt. You may be surprised how cheap it is to buy a 20L drum of it. Either drill and fill holes or paint cutted surface.

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Offline krisandkev

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2012, 10:24:57 AM »
You can get stronger poisons, but as mentioned, Glyphosate should do the job. 
We cut down some White Cedars not long ago and I used Glyphosate 450.  We live on a small farm so I buy it by the 20 litre container and last time I paid just $95. 
It works best if diluted with water and if some type of soil wetting agent is added.  You may have to re-apply after a few weeks, just watch for new growth.  And it needs the plant to be growing, even draughts will limit its ineffectiveness.
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Offline Big Nath

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2012, 10:29:29 AM »
You can get stronger poisons, but as mentioned, Glyphosate should do the job. 
We cut down some White Cedars not long ago and I used Glyphosate 450.  We live on a small farm so I buy it by the 20 litre container and last time I paid just $95. 
It works best if diluted with water and if some type of soil wetting agent is added.  You may have to re-apply after a few weeks, just watch for new growth.  And it needs the plant to be growing, even draughts will limit its ineffectiveness.
Kevin

The easiest and best "wetter" (soil wetting agent) is simple truck or car wash.

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Offline Mace

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2012, 10:41:34 AM »
From my knowledge, most Conifers will die once cut off at ground level.  they will only re-shoot from any greenery left.

I have removed several that were cut off several years after the event, winched them out with the warn - I did leave a few feet of stump to use tho.  One still has a bird bath on the stump left behind.

Pine will rot away quickly, cypress takes much longer.

You can, as said, quicken the dying time by painting with glysophate.  Ive used this on deciduous trees to good effect.

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Offline bobnrob

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2012, 12:18:23 PM »
Have always just made a criss-cross pattern across the top of stumps with the chainsaw, each cut about 15-25mm deep. Stumps have died & never had new shoots come up.
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Offline Buccan80

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2012, 01:47:17 PM »
If they are pines they will not grow back once cut down, they will eventually rot away but if you put chainsaw cuts in top it may speed up process slightly.

Offline Kit_e_kat9

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #8 on: April 23, 2012, 04:30:26 PM »
Glyphosate

X 2 ... I painted it on a eucalypt stump and it ceased to exist.  I've no idea why you would plant a 20m+ eucalypt less than 2m from a house.

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Offline Hoyks

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2012, 05:41:09 PM »
A pine cut low should be no problem, as said they are easy to kill, eucalyptus on the other hand.

Getting in a stump grinder in will get rid of the remainder, speed up it's rotting down and reduce the places for termites to set up residence.

Offline wholehog

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2012, 05:56:50 PM »
X 2 ... I painted it on a eucalypt stump and it ceased to exist.  I've no idea why you would plant a 20m+ eucalypt less than 2m from a house.

Kit_e
My wife and i had a Eucalypt about 60cm diameter...literally 30 cm's from my bedroom wall and the council :police: refused to let me cut it down...We had to get an abourist (400 bux later) to say the tree would stress and eventually fail..... 8)

Offline Kit_e_kat9

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2012, 07:26:19 PM »
My wife and i had a Eucalypt about 60cm diameter...literally 30 cm's from my bedroom wall and the council :police: refused to let me cut it down...We had to get an abourist (400 bux later) to say the tree would stress and eventually fail..... 8)

Geeze ... did I have to ask the council whether the tree peeved me no end and was a problem for the house?  Not to mention it's annoying branch dropping, leaf dropping attitude to my yard. 

Mine just simply "disappeared" without trace.  I think a 'Dingo's Got My Eucalypt'.   ;D

I did note that a few years later the council did a 'Tree Audit' in our neighbourhood, so I reckon I won't be able to do that again ... if the tree ever suddenly "materialised" back into the same spot.

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Offline D4D

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2012, 07:32:52 PM »
My wife and i had a Eucalypt about 60cm diameter...literally 30 cm's from my bedroom wall and the council :police: refused to let me cut it down...We had to get an abourist (400 bux later) to say the tree would stress and eventually fail..... 8)

I went to town after the bushfires when they introduced this Under the new Clause 52.43 of the Victoria Planning Provisions, no permits are
required for the removal of trees around a building used for accommodation within 10 metres for fire prevention purposes.
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Offline davo69 and the Nurse

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2012, 07:43:20 PM »
Kit-e,

Do you remember my relative who did a spot of tree clearing around his house? Our lovely council fined him severely as the land adjoins Daisy Hill SF. He was only trying to protect his house in case a fire ripped through the area.

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Offline Kit_e_kat9

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2012, 08:02:18 PM »
Kit-e,
Do you remember my relative who did a spot of tree clearing around his house? Our lovely council fined him severely as the land adjoins Daisy Hill SF. He was only trying to protect his house in case a fire ripped through the area.
the Nurse

I do indeed.  Wasn't long after my tree mysteriously got stolen from my yard actually. 

The BF backs onto land that adjoints Daisy Hill SF (up near Rovers) and he has them right on his boundary line.  He curses the leaves they drop on the pool cover.  This year there have been so many that the water is now tannin coloured.   ???  About 2 yrs ago, a bobcat or drot or whatever you call them, came an cleared a 4wd track along the fence line, leaving everything in huge piles about a car length off the fence.  I'd hate to think what would happen when a fire goes through.  But in saying that, he evicted an echidna on the weekend, and we see and hear Koala's often which you'd think it would be more often though with the Koala park so close.

I believe the council has put a 2 acre clearing limit on the block with something like $40K per acre thereafter environmental charge if they clear.  It did have approval for a golf club at one stage.

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Offline Jason B

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #15 on: April 23, 2012, 08:05:50 PM »
The easiest and best "wetter" (soil wetting agent) is simple truck or car wash.

Cheers!

x 2 works a treat and is a poofteenth of the cost of the other stuff

Offline Jason B

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #16 on: April 23, 2012, 08:09:51 PM »
My experience with pines is that you need to paint the entire cut surface of the stump with Glyphosate (a good one 350 or 450ml) as soon as you cut it. I mean have the roundup ready and paint it on straight as soon as you turn the saw off. Other wise I have found they secrete a resin that seals the stump ans prevents the poison from penetrating far enough to kill them.


regards


jas

Offline Wunderlust

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #17 on: April 23, 2012, 08:10:42 PM »
My wife and i had a Eucalypt about 60cm diameter...literally 30 cm's from my bedroom wall and the council :police: refused to let me cut it down...We had to get an abourist (400 bux later) to say the tree would stress and eventually fail..... 8)

Gee this sound familiar! I had one very similar here.

Conversation wih the officer went something like this....

Him: we don't want you to cut trees down here, it's a conservation area.
Me: very good but it's half. Meter nd over hanging the house.
Him: well yes...
Me: from this I understand the council will now take full responsibility for my house and the absolute safety of my family then?
Him: no
Me: we'll yes as your council guidelines request anything in 2-3 metres of the house is a fire hazard.
Him:  you have a point and if something I'd happen you'd sue me and the council
Me: yup
Him: best let you cut it down then!

 ;D

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Offline Roddersz

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #18 on: April 23, 2012, 08:11:50 PM »
The old trick (probably not overly eco-friendly) was to pour some of the chainsaw fuel onto the stump, especially when fresh cut as mentioned.

Our council has a blind eye when it comes to tree removal now. They had bloke complain and request a tree removed as it was looking like coming down. Council knocked him back, sure enough a few months later in a storm down it came right onto the blokes house (nobody hurt) the insurance company was asking some curly questions! So now they have a policy that if the public even perceives a risk, be it real or not, down it comes.

Cheers
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Offline bobnrob

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #19 on: April 23, 2012, 08:38:23 PM »
My wife and i had a Eucalypt about 60cm diameter...literally 30 cm's from my bedroom wall and the council :police: refused to let me cut it down...We had to get an abourist (400 bux later) to say the tree would stress and eventually fail..... 8)

I wanted to drop 2 trees years ago. 1 had a split down the trunk, & council wanted me to drill & put a large bolt through it to hold it together  :o  Finally got him to agree!
The other came within a law our council had on the books...a tree could be removed if within a certain distance from the eave(s) of the house. Can't remember what the distance is, but this one was about 2m off the house. They couldn't refuse me :)
Bob and Robyn


Offline Crockett

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #20 on: April 24, 2012, 12:35:08 AM »
 Save your poison it will die, if you must glypho it bunnies sells the strong stuff too @ 360 mlpl, unless you got a paddock with a weed problem, 20lt is a waist of money.

Offline cruisindub

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Re: killing tree stumps?
« Reply #21 on: April 24, 2012, 01:27:39 AM »
Some great replies there swaggers, many thanks!

Not having much of a green thumb, need all the advice.

Keen to get cracking on with the chainsaw.!

(Do I even need to ask the council permission?)
Why do people ask "What the hell were you thinking?"
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