In this video I clearly demonstrate how to expertly remove a large tree stump. The first step is to know that it is going to be both mentally and physically challenging! Then embrace it with joy in your heart! Be Gratefully Outdoors! Be thankful that you are physically able to do this kind of work! Be thankful that you have the mental fortitude to start and finish what most people would consider a daunting task!
The trick to getting a big stump out is to have the right tools and start wide. A large and small shovel are essential for removing dirt and exposing roots. You will need an axe. In this video I use an eightpound Husky. The extra weight helps power through stubborn roots. A mattock pick works great for popping up and busting smaller hidden roots. Then use your limb loppers and hand pruners to cut them out of the way so you can dig down to find more roots! You have to make one circle of cuts as close to the dense root ball as possible, and another circle of cuts about a foot or so out from that. This enables you to remove chunks of roots that will ultimately give you enough space to work your way down and under the stumps root ball. You'll notice that I waited to cut the tree all the way down to the ground until after I had it dug all the way out. The extra weight up top and leverage this gives you is crucial to a successful removal.
At the end of the video, I use ratchet straps tied off to the base of another tree to help crank it over and expose the roots under the ball that are very difficult to get to. After it's all the roots have been severed, I cut it down into manageable pieces with my trusty Ryobi Chainsaw. You can do a surprisingly large amount of work with one of these very light weigh 14" battery powered chainsaws. I then finish up by placing a couple of 1x4's at an angle under the stump that allow the root ball to slide up and out. As it was way too heavy to get out safely by hand, I tied off higher on the same tree with my ratchet straps and cranked it up and out! Piece of Cake! Easy Money!
Feel free to skip the gym after this, because you definitely got a good workout!