How to Remove a Maple Stump

Clear the area around the stump. You will need to remove any vegetation around the stump so that all that is left is dirt. Place bricks or cinderblocks around the edge of the cleared area in the shape of a circle.

Level the stump off. If the maple tree was not cut down uniformly, or the stump is more than six inches high, it should be leveled off with a chainsaw. You want to reduce the total mass of the stump.

Drill holes into the stump every three inches. Using a six-inch-long bit, drill holes along the edge of the stump, approximately two inches away from the edge.

Pour kerosene down the drilled holes. This will be used to ignite the stump to destroy it from within. Work carefully and avoid spilling kerosene onto the ground.

Light the kerosene. Do not attempt this on a windy day. This fire will smolder for at least two days after it is lit. Monitor the area and make sure the smolder does not turn into a full-fledged fire.

Dig out the remainder of the stump. Once the interior of the stump has been burned, you will be left with a few larger pieces of wood and potentially the root system. Use your shovel to remove this material from the hole. If necessary, use a log chain to help pull the root system out.