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Burning out tree roots
Hello. I chopped down a huge overgrown conifer, leaving a stump about
10" high and obviously a lot of roots. It is in an awkward spot so grinding it out is not an option. I was thinking about burning it and the roots out. However, there are a few other well-established trees around that spot, and you can probably see where I'm going here. I'll spell out my question anyway: In burning out the roots of my felled conifer, is there a risk of burning all the other live tree roots in the vicinity? Thanks for any response. Chad. |
Burning out tree roots
P Verstege wrote:
Hello. I chopped down a huge overgrown conifer, leaving a stump about 10" high and obviously a lot of roots. It is in an awkward spot so grinding it out is not an option. I was thinking about burning it and the roots out. However, there are a few other well-established trees around that spot, and you can probably see where I'm going here. I'll spell out my question anyway: In burning out the roots of my felled conifer, is there a risk of burning all the other live tree roots in the vicinity? Thanks for any response. I'm afraid I've no useful advice wrt burning...... but next time leave 4ft of trunk and use that as a lever to rock the roots out! pk |
Burning out tree roots
"P Verstege" wrote in message om... Hello. I chopped down a huge overgrown conifer, leaving a stump about 10" high and obviously a lot of roots. It is in an awkward spot so grinding it out is not an option. I was thinking about burning it and the roots out. However, there are a few other well-established trees around that spot, and you can probably see where I'm going here. I'll spell out my question anyway: In burning out the roots of my felled conifer, is there a risk of burning all the other live tree roots in the vicinity? It's not at all easy to "burn out" a tree stump - I have tried. You need to apply a very fierce flame due to the amount of sap and surrounding damp soil. It's most unlikely to burn strongly enough to affect other trees. The only way they may be damaged is if you apply too much flammable material to get it going. Better (and safer) to dig out as much as you can and then apply chemical stump remover. - Arthur |
Burning out tree roots
"P Verstege" wrote in message om... Hello. I chopped down a huge overgrown conifer, leaving a stump about 10" high and obviously a lot of roots. It is in an awkward spot so grinding it out is not an option. I was thinking about burning it and the roots out. However, there are a few other well-established trees around that spot, and you can probably see where I'm going here. I'll spell out my question anyway: In burning out the roots of my felled conifer, is there a risk of burning all the other live tree roots in the vicinity? It's not at all easy to "burn out" a tree stump - I have tried. You need to apply a very fierce flame due to the amount of sap and surrounding damp soil. It's most unlikely to burn strongly enough to affect other trees. The only way they may be damaged is if you apply too much flammable material to get it going. Better (and safer) to dig out as much as you can and then apply chemical stump remover. - Arthur |
Burning out tree roots
"P Verstege" wrote in message om... Hello. I chopped down a huge overgrown conifer, leaving a stump about 10" high and obviously a lot of roots. It is in an awkward spot so grinding it out is not an option. I was thinking about burning it and the roots out. However, there are a few other well-established trees around that spot, and you can probably see where I'm going here. I'll spell out my question anyway: In burning out the roots of my felled conifer, is there a risk of burning all the other live tree roots in the vicinity? It's not at all easy to "burn out" a tree stump - I have tried. You need to apply a very fierce flame due to the amount of sap and surrounding damp soil. It's most unlikely to burn strongly enough to affect other trees. The only way they may be damaged is if you apply too much flammable material to get it going. Better (and safer) to dig out as much as you can and then apply chemical stump remover. - Arthur |
Burning out tree roots
I don't know about burning out conifer but I tried it with Sycamore. I
tried various ignition methods including building a hot bonfire over the stump. It doesn't work - you get a harder slightly smaller black stump. What did work was to excavate around the stump and then drill numerous holes through the stump as far sown as possible. Then I snapped it off and filled in the hole. a Lot of work and only a small stump. Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com |
Burning out tree roots
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Burning out tree roots
On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 11:50:25 GMT, Jaques d'Alltrades wrote:
The message from (P Verstege) contains these words: What did work was to excavate around the stump and then drill numerous holes through the stump as far sown as possible. Then I snapped it off and filled in the hole. a Lot of work and only a small stump. But what if Iwant to plant another tree there? Will the rotted (rotting?) roots kill off any new roots? That's why I was thinking of burning them out - so I can clear the ground for something else No, but it might attract honey fungus. If you want to plant something soon, don't use sulphuric acid on the stump. Otherwise you can drill some deep holes into the wood and pour in battery acid, and that will reduce the stump to (eventually) carbon, but to a brittle mass fairly quickly. Next time, take most of the branches off a tree you want out, cut round the roots and attach a rope to as near the top as possible (taking into consideration the strength of the trunk there) and using the height of the tree as a lever, pull it over. Then you'll have a rootball from which you can dig/crowbar/pickaxe the earth from it. I have never tried this but beleive that you drill a number of holes as large and deep as practical into the stump. Fill these holes with saltpetre in solution, repeat this filling for a number of times. Then built a small fire over the stump. The saltpetre absorbed into the stump will cause it to burn well. Perhaps someone who reads this will have tried and can say if or not it is practical. Cheers John T -- All e-mails and attachments are virus checked with Norton before sending. |
Burning out tree roots
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Burning out tree roots
The message
from John Towill contains these words: I have never tried this but beleive that you drill a number of holes as large and deep as practical into the stump. Fill these holes with saltpetre in solution, repeat this filling for a number of times. Then built a small fire over the stump. The saltpetre absorbed into the stump will cause it to burn well. Perhaps someone who reads this will have tried and can say if or not it is practical. Sounds like an ideas-man scheme: you'd never get the saltpetre to penetrate all the stump, let alone the roots. If you could do it, mind, and estimate the volume of wood, you could use the corresponding amount of saltpetre, let the stump dry out and then just light a fuse to it and be left with a rather large crater.... I did try something similar with sodium chlorate when you could get it from any florist or seedsman for 1/6d a pound, and before the killjoys put a fire-inhibiter with it, and it was still a dismal failure. -- Rusty Hinge http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm Dark thoughts about the Wumpus concerto played with piano, iron bar and two sledge hammers. (Wumpus, 15/11/03) |
Burning out tree roots
"P Verstege" wrote in message om... (Steve Harris) wrote in message ... I don't know about burning out conifer but I tried it with Sycamore. I tried various ignition methods including building a hot bonfire over the stump. It doesn't work - you get a harder slightly smaller black stump. What did work was to excavate around the stump and then drill numerous holes through the stump as far sown as possible. Then I snapped it off and filled in the hole. a Lot of work and only a small stump. But what if Iwant to plant another tree there? Will the rotted (rotting?) roots kill off any new roots? The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. [snip] Franz |
Burning out tree roots
"Jaques d'Alltrades" wrote in message ... The message from (P Verstege) contains these words: What did work was to excavate around the stump and then drill numerous holes through the stump as far sown as possible. Then I snapped it off and filled in the hole. a Lot of work and only a small stump. But what if Iwant to plant another tree there? Will the rotted (rotting?) roots kill off any new roots? That's why I was thinking of burning them out - so I can clear the ground for something else No, but it might attract honey fungus. A healthy, woundless growing plant is unlikely to succumb to honey fungus. [snip] Franz |
Burning out tree roots
In article , P Verstege
writes Hello. I chopped down a huge overgrown conifer, leaving a stump about 10" high and obviously a lot of roots. It is in an awkward spot so grinding it out is not an option. I was thinking about burning it and the roots out. However, there are a few other well-established trees around that spot, and you can probably see where I'm going here. I'll spell out my question anyway: In burning out the roots of my felled conifer, is there a risk of burning all the other live tree roots in the vicinity? My neighbour tells me that the previous occupant of my house felled some quite large trees down the side of the house. He soaked the stumps in saltpetre and set them alight. Every couple of weeks the fire-brigade had to turn out to extinguish the blaze where the stumps had flared up again. John -- John Rouse |
Burning out tree roots
The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains these words: "P Verstege" wrote in message om... (Steve Harris) wrote in message ... I don't know about burning out conifer but I tried it with Sycamore. I tried various ignition methods including building a hot bonfire over the stump. It doesn't work - you get a harder slightly smaller black stump. What did work was to excavate around the stump and then drill numerous holes through the stump as far sown as possible. Then I snapped it off and filled in the hole. a Lot of work and only a small stump. But what if Iwant to plant another tree there? Will the rotted (rotting?) roots kill off any new roots? The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. I think it's time for your medication, Franz :-) Janet |
Burning out tree roots
"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The message from "Franz Heymann" contains these words: "P Verstege" wrote in message om... (Steve Harris) wrote in message ... I don't know about burning out conifer but I tried it with Sycamore. I tried various ignition methods including building a hot bonfire over the stump. It doesn't work - you get a harder slightly smaller black stump. What did work was to excavate around the stump and then drill numerous holes through the stump as far sown as possible. Then I snapped it off and filled in the hole. a Lot of work and only a small stump. But what if Iwant to plant another tree there? Will the rotted (rotting?) roots kill off any new roots? The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. I think it's time for your medication, Franz :-) I gardened happily and successfully with just that for soil when my garden was on the Bagshot sands. Franz |
Burning out tree roots
In message , John Towill
writes On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 11:50:25 GMT, Jaques d'Alltrades wrote: The message from (P Verstege) contains these words: What did work was to excavate around the stump and then drill numerous holes through the stump as far sown as possible. Then I snapped it off and filled in the hole. a Lot of work and only a small stump. But what if Iwant to plant another tree there? Will the rotted (rotting?) roots kill off any new roots? That's why I was thinking of burning them out - so I can clear the ground for something else No, but it might attract honey fungus. If you are unlucky. Mine attracted an inedible but large fruiting fungus that eventually weakened the stump enough to get it out without easy access. However, it wasn't quick and took the best part of a decade to work! If you want to plant something soon, don't use sulphuric acid on the stump. Otherwise you can drill some deep holes into the wood and pour in battery acid, and that will reduce the stump to (eventually) carbon, but to a brittle mass fairly quickly. Next time, take most of the branches off a tree you want out, cut round the roots and attach a rope to as near the top as possible (taking into consideration the strength of the trunk there) and using the height of the tree as a lever, pull it over. Then you'll have a rootball from which you can dig/crowbar/pickaxe the earth from it. I have never tried this but beleive that you drill a number of holes as large and deep as practical into the stump. Fill these holes with saltpetre in solution, repeat this filling for a number of times. Then built a small fire over the stump. The saltpetre absorbed into the stump will cause it to burn well. It won't burn particularly well, but if you can get it loaded with enough potassium nitrate and alight it will continue to smoulder if it ever gets dry enough. I tried this with an old dead 2' diameter pear tree stump about a decade ago. The effect was that it would not burn because ground was far too wet even on the driest summer days. However it did accelerate fungal decay. I finally removed the stump by digging it out this year after the fungi had weakened it sufficiently. Even then it required several heavy scaffold poles to lever the stump out. Perhaps someone who reads this will have tried and can say if or not it is practical. Fill the holes with dry saltpetre - no point adding any more water than is absolutely necessary. There is usually far too much water in the wood to get anything embedded in the ground to burn. A pine tree might be willing to go more easily with its resinous sap. Regards, -- Martin Brown |
Burning out tree roots
"Martin Brown" wrote in message ... In message , John Towill writes On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 11:50:25 GMT, Jaques d'Alltrades wrote: The message from (P Verstege) contains these words: What did work was to excavate around the stump and then drill numerous holes through the stump as far sown as possible. Then I snapped it off and filled in the hole. a Lot of work and only a small stump. But what if Iwant to plant another tree there? Will the rotted (rotting?) roots kill off any new roots? That's why I was thinking of burning them out - so I can clear the ground for something else No, but it might attract honey fungus. If you are unlucky. Mine attracted an inedible but large fruiting fungus [snip] What did it look like? How certain are you that it was inedible? Franz |
Burning out tree roots
The message
from Martin Brown contains these words: It won't burn particularly well, but if you can get it loaded with enough potassium nitrate and alight it will continue to smoulder if it ever gets dry enough. I tried this with an old dead 2' diameter pear tree stump about a decade ago. The effect was that it would not burn because ground was far too wet even on the driest summer days. Saltpetre *IS* potassium nitrate. -- Rusty Hinge http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm Dark thoughts about the Wumpus concerto played with piano, iron bar and two sledge hammers. (Wumpus, 15/11/03) |
Burning out tree roots
On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 12:31:07 GMT, Jaques d'Alltrades
wrote: The message from Martin Brown contains these words: It won't burn particularly well, but if you can get it loaded with enough potassium nitrate and alight it will continue to smoulder if it ever gets dry enough. I tried this with an old dead 2' diameter pear tree stump about a decade ago. The effect was that it would not burn because ground was far too wet even on the driest summer days. Saltpetre *IS* potassium nitrate. I was hoping that as it's Sunday, you were going to quote something biblical about the burning bush. -- Martin |
Burning out tree roots
The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains these words: "Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. I think it's time for your medication, Franz :-) I gardened happily and successfully with just that for soil when my garden was on the Bagshot sands. I'm sure you did, but what's the relevance to burning out tree roots etc? Janet |
Burning out tree roots
In article , Franz Heymann
writes The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. [snip] But isn't 'beech sand' made entirely of rotting wood? ;-) -- Kay Easton Edward's earthworm page: http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm |
Burning out tree roots
On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 15:00:36 GMT, Janet Baraclough
wrote: The message from "Franz Heymann" contains these words: "Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. I think it's time for your medication, Franz :-) I gardened happily and successfully with just that for soil when my garden was on the Bagshot sands. I'm sure you did, but what's the relevance to burning out tree roots etc? You were right first time Janet :-) -- Martin |
Burning out tree roots
On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 15:46:47 +0000, Kay Easton
wrote: In article , Franz Heymann writes The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. [snip] But isn't 'beech sand' made entirely of rotting wood? ;-) I think Franz meant beach sand -- Martin |
Burning out tree roots
In article , martin
writes On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 15:46:47 +0000, Kay Easton wrote: In article , Franz Heymann writes The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. [snip] But isn't 'beech sand' made entirely of rotting wood? ;-) I think Franz meant beach sand sigh Do you not look at smileys? -- Kay Easton Edward's earthworm page: http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm |
Burning out tree roots
On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 16:04:44 +0000, Kay Easton
wrote: In article , martin writes On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 15:46:47 +0000, Kay Easton wrote: In article , Franz Heymann writes The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. [snip] But isn't 'beech sand' made entirely of rotting wood? ;-) I think Franz meant beach sand sigh Do you not look at smileys? sometimes :-) -- Martin |
Burning out tree roots
"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The message from "Franz Heymann" contains these words: "Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. I think it's time for your medication, Franz :-) I gardened happily and successfully with just that for soil when my garden was on the Bagshot sands. I'm sure you did, but what's the relevance to burning out tree roots etc? Unfortunately, much earlier on you snipped the bit which tells you what the relevance of my answer was. You really ought to indicate where you snip. {:-(( Franz |
Burning out tree roots
"Kay Easton" wrote in message ... In article , Franz Heymann writes The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. [snip] But isn't 'beech sand' made entirely of rotting wood? ;-) Touche. Beach. Franz |
Burning out tree roots
"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The message from "Franz Heymann" contains these words: "Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. I think it's time for your medication, Franz :-) I gardened happily and successfully with just that for soil when my garden was on the Bagshot sands. I'm sure you did, but what's the relevance to burning out tree roots etc? Unfortunately, much earlier on you snipped the bit which tells you what the relevance of my answer was. You really ought to indicate where you snip. {:-(( Franz |
Burning out tree roots
"Kay Easton" wrote in message ... In article , Franz Heymann writes The difference between beech sand and good garden soil is that the latter has a large percentage of rotting and rotten organic material and the former is just sand. [snip] But isn't 'beech sand' made entirely of rotting wood? ;-) Touche. Beach. Franz |
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