Bleach & stump

dhays · Apr 9, 2017

Did I read on here,that if you drill holes in a stump and pour bleach in them it will rot it faster ? Or should I buy stuff from store? I know tordon works well. Thanks

gmccool · Apr 9, 2017

I can't answer about pouring bleach on a stump but I can tell you Tordon has nothing to do with a stump rotting. Tordon stops a tree from growing back after you cut it off.

Jim in Ma. · Apr 9, 2017

Not sure about bleach. Size and type make a difference.
For smaller soft woods I have covered them with loam and planted them with flowers for a couple of years. For larger ones I drill some holes in the top, soak with diesel fuel, put a large wide tractor rim down to surround the base and burn the whole stump.
The last one I did smouldered for at least a month and I needed almost a cubic yard of loam to fill the hole back in but you would never know there was a stump there when done.

Ray IN · Apr 9, 2017

liquid nitrogen fertilizer poured into the holes will rot it pretty fast.

Billy Shafer · Apr 9, 2017

I tried the bleach trick. Did nothing for me.

Russ from MN · Apr 9, 2017

Like GM said Tordon will not make them rot faster and will probably kill anything in the immediate area!

Steve@Advance · Apr 9, 2017

Bleach might speed up the dying process, but to rot it away you would want bacteria and insect growth.

Seems like the bleach would slow the process.

If you want it to decay on it's own, cut it close to the ground, drill holes to expose more wood to dirt, insects.

If you want to break it off in a few years, leave it tall enough to get some leverage against it to push it over or chain it.

D beatty · Apr 9, 2017

If you want to rot a stump drill holes in stump 8"-10" deep at 30 degree angle and put saltpeter in them and then put hot water in holes till
saltpeter dissolves.

Geo-TH,In · Apr 9, 2017

Ray,
I read that nitrogen is needed to speed up a composting of organic material. So it stands to reason nitrogen would speed up the decomposition. I would cover the stump with dirt after applying nitrogen and keep wet. More dirt will help trap the heat generated by composition and speed up the process.

Make a raised flower bed over the stump. Your boss might like that.

john in la · Apr 9, 2017

As others have said.
Bleach and tordon will only kill the stump. Not make it rot faster.

If you want it to rot you need a nitrogen source to promote algae and microorganisms growth.
Saltpeter and other sources of nitrogen do well.

Another way that works that I like is to drill some holes in the stump and pour a can of condensed milk in the holes.
Let it soak in over night and then throw a ant pile on it. The ants will eat the stump up.

Crazy Horse · Apr 9, 2017

John, would that be the same salt peter that army cooks put into the food before the troops went into town? Probably the same stuff, something to do with wooden stumps and inhibiting growth. Sorry, couldn't help myself !!!

john in la · Apr 9, 2017

I would say saltpeter given to military troops is a myth.

Potassium nitrate (saltpeter) is in fertilizers, tree stump removal and gunpowder.

Oregon Tractor Jack · Apr 9, 2017

Back when you could still get Ammonium Nitrate, that and a little diesel fuel worked wonders. Drill holes in the stump mix the ammonium Nitrate and the diesel together and pour it on the stump. I always mixed it real thin so it would penetrate. Keep doing this for several days/weeks. Build a small fire on top of the stump and let it do the rest. Once the stump starts to burn, it will burn down to the roots. I don't know if this would work as well using potassium nitrate or not. Also, I always waited a year or so before I did this. I don't think this would work on a fresh stump.

OTJ

M-MAN · Apr 9, 2017

You forgot food. Don't know what all it is used in but it's what keeps the color in country ham. It is pretty embarrassing when you call the store and ask for it. When you do find it it will be at the drug store and they will ask what you want it for. BTDT

504 · Apr 9, 2017

I know not everyone can do this but a fire built on the stump and ad a log every once and a while. The stump will burn down and take out the roots too. We cant put a tire on the stump, but an inner tube works great too.

donjr · Apr 9, 2017

Didn't see anyone mention a word about butter milk. Drill some holes in the stump and fill them with ordinary old butter milk.
The bacteria in the milk will rot a stump in a short period of time.....

John B. · Apr 9, 2017

If the tree was alive and just cut down recently don't try to burn it. Once it is charred black it will never rot. Old timers use to build a
fire and char the bottom of their fence posts to keep them from rotting.
My dad tried to burn a stump in the front yard. It stayed charred for years until I took my chainsaw and cut some slots in it. Only took
about 12-16 months after that it and it rotted away. I would always kick a chunk off when I went there to visit.
Yes a fire will burn the roots if the tree has been dead for some years.

jeffcat · Apr 10, 2017

Here ya go. This actually works ! One of my friends did this with a
really big stump maybe 25 inches across. Shop vac and a 4 foot piece
of wood stove metal pipe. Stuck the pipe into a hole he dug beside the
stump, poured in some drain oil, got her going, and then let her rip.
Blast furnase the stump in about three days. Probably a 1/4 cord of
wood in this stump. He had to tend to it now and then but it made Very
little smoke cause of the air blast.
air blast her

farmerwithmutt · Apr 10, 2017

I've seen that on the internet and I'm wondering about colostrum milk if that would do the same thing a friend is seasonal milking and theres some available just gave me an idea thanks.

BarnyardEngineering · Apr 10, 2017

As long as you don't mind the smell of rotting milk...

INCase · Apr 11, 2017

i drilled hole in one and put in the stuff they sell to remove stumps. i presume it was basically salt peter.

I had the best luck when i piled dirt on top of the stump and keep it moist. gives the bugs and critters a place to live/hide while they eat the stump. i think i'll get a stump grinder the next time.

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