You can kill a tree stump using methods including boiling water, salt or digging.

Tree stump removal costs $100 to $200 per hour.

You should avoid removal methods such as bleach, diesel fuel and fire.

Once tree removal is complete, you may think your trees are dead and gone. However, any stumps left behind are still rooted in the ground and may even be gathering nutrients. Stumps can be effectively killed using natural methods or chemical products. You may also prefer to physically remove a stump that’s an eyesore or a hazard on your property.

“There are lots of situations where you might want to [kill a stump], like with anything that’s going to repropagate,” suggested Lisa Tadewaldt, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and owner of Urban Forest Pro in Portland, Oregon. “Even if you’re keeping that stump and you’re putting a pot on it, you might want to kill it so it’s not resprouting.”

Whether you want a tree stump gone or want to prevent it from sprouting again, this guide can help you learn about removal, the costs involved and the pros who can help.

How do you kill a tree stump naturally?

If you’re concerned about your environmental impact, you can use several natural methods to kill a stump.

No intervention

Some tree stumps die on their own without intervention, depending on the species. If you know the tree type, search online to find out whether its stump might produce new shoots.

“A lot of trees aren’t going to resprout. That’s something your arborist could tell you,” Tadewaldt said. “I can’t think of an evergreen that’s going to resprout, but most deciduous trees would.” If you want the dead stump gone, you could let it decompose on its own.

“Certain trees take longer than others,” explained Chris Kemp, ISA Certified Arborist and tree and plant health care manager at Piscataqua Landscaping & Tree Service in Eliot, Maine. “For example, softwoods like white pine decompose much more quickly than a red oak or a hickory.”

Cover the stump

To speed up the decomposition process, one relatively hands-off intervention is to cover the stump with a black tarp, plastic sheet or trash bag to block its access to sunlight and rainwater. The downsides of this approach are that it can take many months, and the tarp is unsightly in the meantime.

Boiling water

Boiling water is a low-cost way to weaken a stump’s structure so that you can kill and remove it. Expose the stump’s root structure, then drill holes 10 inches deep across its surface. Fill the holes with boiling water, then cover it to trap the heat.

Repeat this process as part of your normal lawn care maintenance schedule until the boiling water breaks down the wood fibers enough to remove the stump.

How do you physically kill a tree stump?

The best way to kill a large, stubborn stump is to remove it completely. There are two primary ways to do this.

Grinding

A stump grinder is a specialized machine with spinning teeth used to slowly grind down a stump into wood chips for mulch. The grinding process eliminates the stump and its root system to allow for new planting or landscaping. Although efficient, this method can be dangerous.

“You have to be careful because there are a lot of buried utilities and pipes,” Kemp warned. “People get really hurt when they hit an energized line.”

Fortunately, homeowners across the country can call 811 to reach their state’s call-before-you-dig hotline. Specialists will come to your property to determine where buried utilities are located and mark them. If there are lines close to the stump you want to remove, don’t dig or grind.

Digging

Digging a stump out is time-consuming and labor-intensive. You may be able to dig out stumps that are a foot or less in diameter, but larger stumps require heavy-duty tools such as an excavator. Excavation companies will often rip out multiple stumps when a customer is redoing their landscape or building a new structure.

How do you kill a tree stump using chemicals?

Chemicals can help break down a stump more quickly, but they come with risks.

“I’m against using any kind of chemical that will break down the stump,” Kemp said. “By putting something corrosive into the ground, you’re compromising the ecology of the area.”

On the other hand, chemicals can be useful for stumps in hard-to-reach places. Stump grinders are tough to maneuver into small spaces, so chemicals are a convenient alternative. Carefully follow all instructions and warnings on the packaging of any chemicals you handle.

Salt compounds

Use a long drill bit to make 10-inch-deep holes across the top of the stump and fill them with salt without getting the salt on other plants. If you’re using Epsom salt or rock salt, water the stump to dissolve the salt without letting it run off, then cover the stump with a tarp or sheet to prevent it from washing away. For an herbicide such as Stump-Out, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Repeat the process as needed. This method kills off living plant tissue in the stump in less than a year and makes it easier to break down with manual tools. Be sure to wear eye and skin protection whenever you handle chemicals.

What tree stump removal methods should you avoid?

Many methods can effectively kill a stump, but some of them should not be used due to the danger they pose to you and the environment.

How much does tree stump removal cost?

Expect to pay a minimum of $150 to $250 to have an arborist visit your property for stump removal. After that, it costs between $100 and $200 per hour for stump grinding, according to Tadewaldt, who says that a good-size stump can take a couple of hours to grind.

“Stump removal is pretty affordable. Only the most epic trees take us all day, and that’s probably between $1,000 and $1,500,” Tadewaldt said. Homeowners can also rent their own stump grinder, although they tend to be lower-quality machines that operate more slowly.

“You’ll probably spend half a Saturday doing what will take us an hour and a half,” Tadewaldt added. “But four hours might be worth it depending on what they charge. You can just send a photo of your stump to most stump places and they shoot you a price back. It’s super easy.”

When should you call in a professional?

If you have a large or stubborn stump, you’ll save a lot of time and money by contacting a professional to kill it for you.

“If it’s something small, like shrubs, a rhododendron or azaleas, a shovel, pickaxe or loppers will solve that problem,” Kemp said. “But if you have a shade tree, a dogwood or a crabapple, digging out those stumps is a lot of work. These things are anchoring the tree down, so they’re going to have substantial tree roots.”

What’s next?

If you have a stump that you want to kill or remove, consider the size of the stump and its location on your property. If the stump is particularly large, professional removal is often better than DIY.

You can hire a certified arborist, landscaper or lawn care services company for the job. Get multiple quotes to compare prices and determine which pro you’re most comfortable with.