You might also consider surrounding the stump with chicken wire for added safety. Always keep a bucket of water or water hose nearby during the burn.
If your stump is shorter than 8 inches (20 cm), just drill far enough down so that you reach the roots. Make sure you clear the debris out of the hole once you’ve finished drilling.
Like with your center hole, each hole should be 8 inches (20 cm) to 10 inches (25 cm) deep. If your stump is shorter than this, make sure your holes are at least 3 inches (7. 6 cm) deep. [4] X Research source Clear the debris out of each hole once you’re finished drilling.
As you did with the holes drilled from the top of the stump, leave roughly 1 inch (2. 5 cm) of space between each hole you drill along the stump’s perimeter. Be sure to drill these holes so that they connect to the holes you drilled from the top down. The more air that is able to circulate throughout the stump, the easier it will be to burn it.
For maximum protection, wear protective clothing such as gloves, a mask, and protective goggles when working with potassium nitrate. [7] X Research source Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling potassium nitrate. Store it in a well-ventilated place and in a tightly closed container when you’re not using it. [8] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U. S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source Charcoal can also be used in place of potassium nitrate. [9] X Research source You might also opt to use kerosene to make your stump more flammable. However, you’ll have to leave the stump for a week to soak up the kerosene before lighting it. [10] X Research source
You can also place funnels in each hole and pour water directly from the bucket into the funnels. The water will help to spread the nitrate throughout the stump and make the entire structure more flammable. You don’t have to pour water into the stump if you opted for charcoal or kerosene instead of potassium nitrate. [12] X Research source
This is a common method of assembling firewood over open flames to promote combustibility. You can also simply put the scrap wood on top of the tree stump. However, the stump may take longer to ignite this way.
The time it takes for a stump to catch on fire varies on a case-by-case basis. Allow up to 1 hour for the stump itself to ignite. Dry leaves, dry bark, and even dryer lint all make good kindling when starting a fire. Any dry, easily shredded material makes great kindling. [15] X Research source
You will most likely not have to add any wood to the fire for a small stump; the initial fire will probably be enough to burn the entire stump. If your stump takes more than a day to be removed through burning, add wood to the fire until midnight, then let it burn until the morning. The fire will weaken overnight but in all likelihood will not die out.
Be ready to put out the fire with water or dirt if it begins to burn out of control or threaten to spread to the surrounding area. [16] X Research source Schedule a hefty block of time in which to carry out your burning; the stump will probably take at least an hour or 2 to be removed.
If the roots of the stump are still in place and tough to remove with a shovel, consider chopping them with an ax to break them up and make them easier to remove. [18] X Research source
Be careful when handling these pieces; if they’re still smoldering, they can burn you. Use protective gloves if possible. Aerated concrete or composite wood are good examples of fire-resistant materials you might use.
Cover your newly filled hole with turf seed to cause grass to grow in the exposed patch of soil. [21] X Research source
