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The most common alternative is burning the stump first, then dealing with the cinders and ashes. As you can imagine, this option creates fire hazards, especially since roots can burn underground, hidden, for long afterward. That’s why many states and cities have outlawed the use of stump burning entirely. We do not recommend this option as a viable alternative unless you get a permit from the local fire department and practice all safe burning procedures.

Others prefer a more long-term DIY approach of degrading the stump with home mixtures like Epsom salt and vinegar injected directly into it. This may help the stump decay faster, allowing homeowners to dig it out themselves, but it’s still a lengthy process. It usually takes months for a stump to start falling apart with such treatments, and in the meantime, it can be vulnerable to rot, insects, and other problems.

Your neighbor is not in a good position to know if your trees are truly dead or pose any kind of danger. That’s why hiring an arborist or tree service expert can be such an important part of the process. If the trees are still alive and don’t pose any threat, you’re in the clear (but you may want to document and photograph everything in case events turn sour down the road).

But if a tree is visibly dead and near the property line, you should remove it to be safe. If a dead tree falls on a neighbor’s property, they may have grounds to sue for negligence. If any branches on trees have died, it’s a good idea to cut them back for similar reasons.

A small, healthy tree growing close to your home isn’t usually a problem. However, it’s worth speaking to an arborist if you have a tree within 15 to 20 feet of your home that isn’t in such good health or is encroaching on your home’s perimeter. The last thing you want is branches burrowing their way under tiles, causing a roof leak.

Stumps are difficult to burn due to their dense wood and high moisture content. The dense wood and moisture slow down the burning process, requiring sustained high temperatures over an extended period. Since the wood is damp, this hinders the heat generation needed to keep the fire burning, causing it to frequently go out.