Controlling Cypress Tree Stumps

Wear work gloves and protective eyewear. Cut the cypress tree stump close to ground level with a chainsaw.

Attach a 1-inch drill bit to a power drill. Drill 1-inch holes across the top of the stump, spacing them about 2 to 4 inches apart. These holes should be about 12 inches deep and about 3 to 4 inches away from the edge of the stump.

Drill 1-inch-deep holes into the sides of the stump about 3 to 4 inches from the top. Space these holes about 4 to 6 inches from each other around the entire stump. Angle the holes downward at about a 45-degree angle until they connect with the holes drilled in the top.

Put on chemical-resistant rubber gloves. Pour stump remover containing potassium nitrate as the active ingredient directly into the holes. Fill each hole with water. The stump should decay in about four to six months. Use a shovel to break the decayed stump down. The decayed plant matter can be raked up or incorporated into the surrounding soil.