How to Make Pine Tree Stumps Rot
- 1). Cut the stump as close to the ground as possible so that it is easy to keep wet and covered. If the stump isn't large, a handsaw is all you need to cut it, but if it is big, use a chainsaw. Wear proper safety gear when working with saws such as eye protection and gloves.
- 2). Drill holes down into the top of the stump. Wider holes are better, since they will hold more water. Try to drill them at least 1 inch wide. Make three or four holes in the surface of the stump.
- 3). Water the stump with a watering hose. Moisture speeds up the rotting process.
- 4). Cover the stump with soil from the area as well as a 2- or 3-inch layer of mulch. This traps moisture and keeps the stump damp for long periods of time.
- 5). Sprinkle on a few handfuls of high-nitrogen fertilizer on and around the stump. This increases rotting for recently cut trees. There is no need to repeat the process in the future.
- 6). Check the stump once a week and add water if needed to maintain the moist conditions.
- 7). Sweep away the soil and mulch after the first year of decay and pour sugar into the bore holes and around the stump. Cover with soil and mulch again and maintain dampness. Add sugar once a year to speed rotting.
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