What makes stumps rot faster

Because bleach is caustic, it will rot wood at a moderate rate but not nearly as quickly as potassium nitrate or fertilizer. Because bleach is a dangerous chemical, you should exercise care when using it around children or pets.

Additionally, bleach could kill the plants in the surrounding area. Over time, the salt will deplete the wood of the nutrients it needs to live. However, when using one of these salts, the rotting process is slow. Out of all of these chemical compound choices, this method will take the longest. But this is the most natural method of rotting wood, as the chemicals in these compounds are naturally occurring in the environment.

So, if you have children or pets that will frequent the treated area, this is your safest choice. Here is a list of all the materials you need:. Follow these instructions to rot a tree stump out of the ground safely and effectively.

Also, waiting for warmer weather conditions is probably a good idea as the higher humidity and heat can be helpful. Using the hand-saw or chain-saw, cut what is left of the tree as close to ground level as you safely can.

The smaller the amount of wood you need to remove, the smaller the amount of time it will take to get rid of it. Using your drill and large bit, drill holes into the top of the stump. These holes should be no less than 3 to 4 inches deep. Space the holes about 2 inches apart and spread across the entire area. This is where you select the appropriate chemical that safely and effectively suits your specific needs. Remember, the process for how all of the chemicals work is the same.

Keeping the water under the tarp will keep the wood and soil moist. This will allow the chemical reaction to continue for an extended period of time. Once you have it covered, water the mulch thoroughly as it will also retain water and keep the grass and soil outside of the tarp moist. This will ensure that the chemical has enough moisture to continue reacting.

Depending on the chemical you chose, you will need to repeat Steps 3, 4, and 5 every month to a month and a half. When you uncover the stump, you should notice that the rotting wood is soft and somewhat spongy. You need to remove this rotting timber with a hatchet or an ax. Then, it is time to drill new holes and fill them with water and chemicals. That way, the chemicals will be attacking fresh timber versus wood that has already rotted. In this case, a little standing water is okay.

The stump should be wet over the top and around the base. Then cover it with a plastic tarp. This will help retain the moisture in and around the stump; moisture is the ultimate requirement for quickening the rotting process.

To ensure that the moisture is retained, you can also surround the stump with a waterproof fence, sort of a structure that is about 2 feet higher than the top of the stump. This can be used in place of the plastic tarp. Step 6: The next step is to apply litter or mulch over the top of the tarp. Organic materials like straw and hay are the best for this purpose. Wet mulch is heavier, which will also help keep the tarp in place. Depending on the environmental factors around, you can use rocks or heavy stones and rocks as a secondary option to weigh down the tarp further and keep it in place.

You can speed up the process by occasionally taking out the mulch and tarp for a while, thoroughly soaking the stump and the ground around the stump once again. If you still have the fertilizers left behind from the previous use, you can add more of them to the holes.

Then put the tarp back again and the mulch and soak it once again. Over time a hole will appear as the stump continues to decay. Large roots will also start to disintegrate, decay, and possibly cause depressions. Make sure you fill in these depressions with dirt to prevent attracting insects or worms.

Even if the tree stump does not disintegrate, it will at least become very soft and spongy. The bigger the drill bit the better, and each of the holes should be a few inches deep. After drilling the holes into the stump, you will apply the chemicals that will breakdown the remaining wood. Oregon does have strict legal restrictions about the kind of chemicals you can purchase for this sort of project. Ideally, you would want a commercial fertilizer that is high in nitrogen, since it will give you the fastest results, but cow manure is also effective.

Another more natural alternative is Epsom salt. It has similar dissolving properties to nitrogen but is a more organic approach. When you have chosen the chemical you will use, pack the holes with as much of it as you can. Then soak the ground around the stump and wet the top and sides of the stump. After the stump is wet, cover it with a plastic tarp to trap the moisture around the stump.

Moisture is ultimately what will help the chemicals break down the wood particles faster. The next step is to apply mulch over the top of the plastic tarp.

Organic mulch, like hay or tree bark, is best for this task as it will retain more moisture and help to keep the tarp in place. You can use rocks and stones to weigh down the tarp further to help keep it in place, although this step is considered optional. Book Online Call Us.