In this article, I’ll be discussing homemade tree stump killer options and everything else related to them.

So, you want to get rid of a tree stump in your yard or garden but you don’t want to take the mechanical approach.

You prefer the chemical option but you don’t want to buy industrially produced products.

This would leave you with a single option, to make it yourself! You know it’s possible to do so but you don’t quite understand how to. Not to worry,

Keep reading!

Advantages Of Homemade Tree Stump Killer

Making your tree stump killer comes with some advantages, and I’ll list them out below.

It is cheaper: To whip up your homemade tree stump killer, all you need to do is buy the ingredients you need. Some of which you may already have at home.

This is relatively cheaper when you compare to the cost of popular brand name tree stump killers.

The ingredients are available: As just mentioned, you may already have some of the ingredients in your home. If you don’t, you can simply go to a store and buy it. No hassles whatsoever.

You know your content: When you buy ready-made chemical tree stump killers, you have to make do with what the manufacturers offer you.

On the other hand, the choice of the content of your homemade tree stump killer is completely up to you.

Not only that, but you can also be on the quantity you want to make, according to the size of the tree stump you want to kill.

You can modify the content: Preparing a homemade tree stump killer is similar to cooking. You can add a little of this and more of that if you wish, as long as all the components occur in workable amounts.

This cannot be done with a ready-made tree stump killer.

Disadvantages Of Homemade Tree Stump Killer

As it has its benefits, so does it have its downside.

For me, the major downside with a homemade tree stump killer is that you may not get the mixture right.

If you’ve not had any experience with making a tree stump killer all by yourself, then you’re most likely going to mess the batch up.

Lucky for you, I’ll be teaching you how to make a homemade tree stump killer during this article.

Another disadvantage of using a homemade stump killer (and stump killers in general) is that you need to have sunny days for it to work. If you apply the solution during the raining season, then it can wash away the solution.

A quick fix to this inconvenience is to cover the stump with a tarp after you’ve applied the solution.

Homemade Tree Stump Killers: Ingredients

There are few techniques to doing this.

Epsom Salt

As you may already know, Epsom salt possesses several health benefits.

Besides that, it can also be used to kill stumps.

It is rich in both sulfur and magnesium, which helps produce a habitable environment for trees to grow, that is if it is in small amounts.

On the other hand, they can destroy trees if administered in large amounts. This is where it comes in handy for your homemade tree stump killer.

Epsom Salt Tree Root Killer Recipe

  • 2 1/2 gallons of warm water
  • 15 cups of Epsom salts
  • 1 big bucket (3-gallon capacity)
  • A garden trowel
  • A drill

To make a tree stump killer using Epsom salt, fill up the large bucket with warm water, then pour in some Epsom salt. Stir continuously until the salt is completely dissolved on the water.

The next step is to grab your garden trowel and dig around the base of the stump. Doing this will expose the roots as much as possible

The more of the tree roots you expose, the faster the Epsom salt solution will kill the stump and stop future sprouting.

Drill a few 2-inch deep holes around the stump and in the roots then fill the holes with the Epsom salt mixture you made. If the solution isn’t enough, then there’s nothing stopping you from making a new batch.

In a week, go back to the stump and fill the holes again (the previous mixture would’ve been soaked up by then). Keep repeating the process until the stump is completely dead.

You can then proceed to cut out the dried-out stump.

If you like, you can make another batch and pour it into a spray bottle. You can use this to kill weeds or grasses growing in undesirable parts of your yard.

It is best to apply this mixture when you’re not expecting any rain, as it can wash away the solution from the stump before it does its job.

To be on the safe side, you can cover the stump with a waterproof tarp and bind it to the stump with a rope.

Rock Salt

There are many things you can rock salt for. These include melting snow along walkways and major roads. Guess what? You can also use them for your hone made tree stump killer.

Sodium chloride which is its active ingredient causes major damage to tree stumps and its roots.

Sodium chloride sucks up all the moisture from the stump and will dry it out over time. If the roots are deprived of moisture, then they will eventually die.

Rock Salt Recipe

  • 2 pounds rock salt
  • 68 ounces of hot water
  • 8 cubic feet mulch
  • 8 cubic feet soil

You will have to drill holes into the stump for this method. Stuff the holes and the base of the stump with the rock salt. A 2-inch layer will do.

Next, you pour in some hot water so the rock salt will be embedded into the soil, then cover the stump with an adequate amount of mulch and soil.

Allow it to sit for just over a month then you will find that the stump has been decomposed. The process might take longer if you are dealing with a large stump.

When the stump is completely dried out, you can proceed to remove it.

Undiluted White Vinegar

If you’re cautious about using a non-toxic homemade solution for your tree stump, then you may want to consider using vinegar.

Gardeners use horticultural vinegar in small quantities and low concentrations to aid plant growth. However, if this is used frequently, and in large amounts, then undiluted white vinegar will kill the plant.

Vinegar Recipe

  • 1 empty spray bottle
  • 2 cups undiluted white vinegar

You need a few sunny days for this process to work.

Fill up a clean spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar then spray the vinegar into the sprouts from the stump. Do this regularly and you will find that the roots will die over time.

Foaming Root Killer

Foaming root killers are also an effective means of killing roots and tree stumps. They are widely used by plumbers to rid drains and pipes of encroaching roots.

Here are some other examples of root killers.

Foaming Root Killer Recipe

  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • Regular table salt
  • Boiling water

This is also an effective homemade tree stump killer that produces desired results.

After you’ve mixed the ingredients on the list, flush it down the toilet located at the lowest part of the house.

You will notice the solution fizzing and it will fill the pipes, which will cause salt to attack the unwanted roots.

Any root that gets washed in this solution will be dead, although it will take some time before they are drained away.

Why You Need To Remove The Tree Stump

Tree stumps are basically what’s left of a felled tree. The thing is, they are ugly and annoying. If you saw it fit to cut down the tree, then why leave the stump there?

Below are some reasons why you should get rid of tree stumps.

It can cause injuries: If you strike your foot against a tree stump, you could break one or more toes, depending on how hard you hit it. It’s indeed visible enough to avoid, but that’s during the day time. Things could be different at night when visibility is limited.

They deface your yard: If you’ve worked so hard to keep your lawn trimmed and your trees beautiful, then having a stump sticking out will discredit all the effort you’ve made to maintain your garden.

Getting rid of it and covering up the hole will restore your garden’s lovely looks.

It attracts pests: An old and decayed tree stump is the ideal “tourist resort” for plant pests of all sorts.

These pests will not only invade the stump, but they will also branch out to the other healthy trees in your yard and cause them harm. Worse still, they can creep into your home and attack the woodwork!

Conclusion

A homemade tree stump killer is an excellent way to rid your yard of an old stump. It is easy to make and it gets the job done.

Try it today!

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