How to Burn a Huge Stump

Call your local fire department or city hall to find out if there are any permits required to burn stumps. Permits must be obtained prior to burning. In addition, the fire department may have to supervise or make routine checks throughout the burning. In some cases, stump burning is not allowed within the city or county limits.

Cut both ends off of a 55-gallon barrel. The barrel will serve as a makeshift stove for the stump. If the barrel is not large enough to accommodate the size of the stump, consider burning one side of the stump first and the second half of the stump later. Another way to create a "stove" for the stump is to stack landscaping rocks or bricks around the stump to create a wall.

Drill several holes into the stump, or use a chainsaw to create deep trenches, to expose the interior of the stump. This will help the kerosene seep into the wood.

Add kerosene directly to the stump, making sure to get into the drilled holes. Light a match and drop it into one or two of the holes.

Watch for the stump to begin to smolder. This is an indication that the wood has caught fire. You want the stump to burn from the interior out, because if the exterior of the wood is on fire then it may burn out before the interior can catch fire.

Move the ashes and crumbles from the burnt stump around as it burns. The top layer of the stump begins to dissolve first; therefore, use a pitch fork to slide the ashes to side so the ash does not suffocate the fire. The burning process may take several days to complete. As long as the barrel is secured firmly around the stump, it is okay to burn through the days and nights with minimal supervision.

Remove the barrel once the stump is finished burning. Use a pitch fork and shovel to move the burned stump away from the area. Once the ground is cool and smooth, it can be seeded for new grass.