Get matched with top leaf removal pros in Herman, MN

Unfortunately, palm tree stumps are one of the most difficult types to remove due to how their roots grow. Unlike other trees, palm tree roots grow horizontally and vertically. Palm tree roots grow as deep as three feet into the ground, although soil and growing conditions could mean they go as far as 50 inches into the earth. 

If you want to be able to repurpose the grass in the area where you removed a stump later, you’ll have to dig quite deep—and perhaps wide—to trim away all the roots.

Using a drill to bore holes in the stump's center speeds up the process, whatever method you use. If you don’t have a drill, you can still chainsaw or chisel the stump to make it hollow; it will just take more elbow grease and time. Steer clear of burning the stump to hollow it if you can’t drill some holes in it first. Otherwise, getting it to light, stay lit, and burn right through will be a challenge.

Vinegar is another household item that can kill a tree stump over time. Vinegar’s acetic acid works to dissolve the stump’s outer layer through its carbohydrates. However, this compound alone is not enough to kill a large tree stump or one in a hard-to-reach spot. Other methods like stump grinding and applying herbicides work much faster and more effectively than using vinegar.

Yes, you can build over a stump if the roots are no longer alive. Living roots will continue to grow and may damage your new construction over time. Similarly, you should also remove rotting stumps because they may continue to attract pests and even cause new structures (especially those made from wood) to decompose as well.