Can I Drill & Chemically Treat a Tree Stump to Kill the Roots & Suckers?

Cutting

• When you first cut your tree down, ensure that you cut it as close to the ground as possible. The less wood left for a stump, the better off you will be. If you are facing an existing stump, consider using a chainsaw to cut it to ground level, or as close as possible. The less wood left, the less stored energy the tree will have for sending up suckers, and the less time it will take to decompose.

Drilling

• Drill as many 1-inch holes as you can, over the entirety of the exposed stump. Vary their depths as best you can. You are looking to expose as much of the stump to the elements as possible. Think about what causes wood to rot when you don't want it to: exposure and moisture. The same principle is at work here.

Chemical Decomposition

• Most commercial stump removers rely on saltpeter to supplement nitrogen in order to speed up fungal and bacterial activity in the stump. This will cause the stump to decompose at a faster rate than it would naturally. You can also hasten the decay process by covering your stump with organic material such as leaf litter and grass clippings after drilling and chemically treating the wood. Fungi and bacteria feed on the decaying organic material and then migrate to the stump.

Chemical Herbicides

• Chemical treatments that are used to kill stumps, rather than encourage their decay alone, typically contain glyphosate, a potent herbicidal chemical. These products can be applied to freshly cut stumps or poured into holes drilled in the stump, and fresh cuts made in the surface of the wood.