It can be a big headache to remove stumps especially if they are remnants of a big tree. It can be more challenging if you are only equipped with hand tools such as a shovel and a pick. With an excavator or backhoe, the job becomes easier but it is important to comply with safety precautions associated with using heavy equipment and you will find the precautions in your manual.
It is important to place your excavator near the stump you want to remove. You should not be too close to it and you should dig a trench around the perimeter of the stump. The trench should be dug a few feet away from the edge of the fallen tree and around its perimeter. If the fallen tree is very large with a more extensive root system, the trench should be dug further away. If you are able to expose more roots by digging away from the stump, it will be easier for you to pull it out of the ground. The excavator should be moved, if need be, so that the trench can be dug all the way round the fallen tree.
Besides, you should move the stump by bracing the bucket of the excavator against the fallen tree and pushing it. You can also hook the edge of the bucket underneath it and lift or pry the stump loose. If it is large or stubborn, it may not move at first. You should go ahead with the digging until the fallen tree is noticeably loose. The bucket should then be used to cut through any roots that may interfere with your operation. If need be, you should get off the excavator and make use of a big landscape bar to cut through the roots and pry underneath the fallen tree.
The edge of the bucket of the excavator should be hooked under the stump once more. As soon as the edge of the bucket gets underneath the stump, you should scoop it out of the hole by lifting the bucket. To make the process easier, you can attach a chain round the stump and attach it to the bucket of the excavator so that the stump can be lifted out of the ground. You should then haul it away or use the excavator to dig a large hole in which you will bury it. The stump hole should be refilled with soil through the excavator.
