How to Dig With a Stump Bucket

Start the skid steer. Use manual and steering controls to aim the bucket at the stump. Keep the end of the bucket at least 56 inches away from the stump. The depth of a standard stump bucket is 56 inches.

Press down with your toes on the left pedal down to lower the skid steer arms -- or press up with your heel to raise the arms -- until the bucket is horizontal with the ground. Press down with your toes on the right pedal down to angle the bucket down -- or press up with your heel to angle the bucket up -- until it's at a 45- to 60-degree angle to the ground.

Use manual controls to dig into the dirt and pedals to lift dirt. Dig up the dirt around the entire stump. Lower the bucket to transfer the dirt and place it at least eight feet away from the dig site.

Angle the bucket to the soil underneath the stump. Insert the bucket into the ground, under the stump, and lift to remove the stump. The stump bucket's serrated teeth will cut through roots and weeds.

Drive forward, slowly, up a hill with a stump -- or dirt -- in the bucket, keeping the weight in front of the skid steer. Drive backward up a hill with an empty bucket. Lower the bucket, place the skid steer in park and shut off the engine before stepping off of the loader.