When a tree dies, removing it can be tricky or even dangerous. Larger trees should be cut down first so that only the stump remains for removal; smaller trees can be removed as they are. Either way, it is not a quick or easy process; hard work and patience are required.
Spade up any perennials around the tree's base that you wish to save; plant them in another location or store them in containers with potting soil to replant in the same area once the tree is removed.
Clear out any grass, suckers or weeds around the base of the tree with a weed whacker; this allows you to clearly see around the base of the tree as you work.
Dig a circular trench around the base of the tree with a spade to locate the roots. Wear gloves to protect your hands from blisters. Avoid digging right up against the tree, as this is where the roots will be concentrated. Instead, start out at least 1 foot away from smaller trees and up to 2 feet away for larger trees, to determine where you can dig under the root ball more easily.
Cut through the extending roots with a pickaxe, sharp spade or axe, severing them all the way through. Wear steel-toed boots and safety goggles to avoid injury from swinging tools or flying wood chips.
Continue digging around and under the roots, pushing away the topsoil from around the tree base to make it easier to lift. Push the spade under the root ball and push down on the handle to see if the tree rocks; if it does not, continue to dig out and remove attached tree roots.
Place the spade under the tree and push down on the handle with a rocking motion. If the tree is still intact, push the tree down in the opposite direction -- preferably with the help of a second person -- to create leverage on the root ball. Continue digging and pushing until the tree pulls free from the soil.
Things You Will Need
- Containers and potting soil (optional)
- Weed whacker
- Work gloves
- Pickaxe or axe
- Steel-toed boots
- Safety goggles
- Use sharpened tools for this job; a dull spade or axe will just make the work harder.
- For larger trees in urban areas, cutting down the tree and grinding the stump is often preferable to digging out the tree.
- Larger trees must be cut down prior to digging up the stump for optimal safety; this may require a professional, depending on the size of the tree.
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