Can A Mini Excavator Remove Stumps? All You Need to Know!

While hoes and rakes are useful for clearing debris in your garden, their functions have limits. Using mini excavators will make your yard or site work easier and faster than using your hands.

Despite being small, there is hardly any work these pieces of equipment can’t do in your backyard. But can a mini excavator remove stumps?

Can A Mini Excavator Remove Stumps?

Yes, it is possible to remove stumps with a mini excavator, depending on the size of the tree stump. If the stump is small, a mini excavator can pull it out easily. Unless you attach some equipment to your mini excavator, a large stump may be hard to pull out.

Come to think of it, how do you use a mini excavator for stump removal? What are the benefits of using this tool?

Keep on reading to find out!

How To Use A Mini Excavator For Stump Removal

When using a mini excavator, there are 2 ways in which you can remove stumps. You can use the digging method or the grinding method.

Let’s check them out.

1. The Digging Method

Removing a stump using the digging method is not only easy; it is also cost-effective. Fortunately, you don’t need to use other attachments with it, which means you can save money. Just use the bucket you bought with it and you’re good to go.

Check for lines running through your environment, especially around the stumps, before taking any steps. If you find any utility lines, do not use an excavator in that particular area. Preferably, consult your utility providers before digging to prevent damage to these lines.

If there are no utility lines around the stumps, then you can get started by following these simple tips:

• Put your mini excavator in close range of the stump.
• Watch out for overhead branches if you notice any of them.
• Use your hands to loosen the soil around the stump.
• When you’re sure the soil is loose, put the bucket’s teeth under the stump and pull.
• Try the tips above again if the stump doesn’t come out at once.

Pro Tip: Larger stumps may not remove while applying the digging method. Therefore, consider the grinding method to make your work easier.

2. The Grinding Method

Applying the grinding method helps to get rid of larger stumps, especially those that are too hard for your mini excavator. Moreover, you have nothing to worry about if there are utility lines around or under the stump. All you need to do is to get a grinder attachment to chip away the stump.

Note that grinder attachments rotate at full speeds to remove hard stumps. They are powerful machines with hydraulic cylinders at the ends.

Follow these simple tips to get started:

• Carefully detach the bucket from the mini excavator.
• Connect the grinder to the excavator.
• Turn it on, then gently lower the grinder close to the stump at ground level.
• If the stump is too large and strong, you may raise the machine for a few minutes to allow it to cool down.
• Don’t stop grinding until the machine is about 8 inches below the surface to prevent insects from invading the area.

Pro Tip: Tell anyone around the site to move far away because the chips from the stumps fly in different directions quickly.

Alternative Ways of Removing Stumps

Sure, a mini excavator can remove tree stumps, but there are other ways to get rid of them.

Here are 3 alternative methods for stump removal:

1. By Digging Manually

If you have the correct tools, removing stumps manually is not expensive. Although you may spend around 3 hours or more on the process, you will get your time’s worth. Besides, this method allows you to get rid of as many tree roots as possible. But it can do a lot of damage to your yard or garden.

So, it is better to hire a professional with the right digging tools to remove the tree stumps.

2. Use A Stump Removal Chemical

Chemicals are also effective in getting rid of stumps. You need to drill some holes in the stumps and fill them with water. Next, pour a fertilizer high in nitrogen or stump-removal granules into these holes filled with water. 

Deeper and wider holes tend to hasten the process of stump removal with chemicals. Remember to cover the stump with a plastic tarp to retain the moisture around the stump.

Around the 4^th to 6^th week, you may notice the stump has become soft, making it easy to break with an ax.

3. Burn The Stump With Fire

By using kerosene, you can burn the stump to prevent it from growing out of the ground. While this method is effective in killing the tree, it won’t get rid of the stump completely. 

Moreover, this method can be dangerous if you live in an environment with a dry climate. Before you burn any stump, consult with your local fire department to be safe.

See another post in this category: Will a Lawn Mower Run With a Dead Battery?

Final Thoughts

We believe you now know that a mini excavator can remove the stumps in your garden or yard. Regardless, learn how to use this piece of equipment correctly to prevent damage in your yard. 

Call a professional removal if you can’t follow through with the processes we’ve listed in this article. If you don’t know the basics, trying to get rid of tree stumps can put you in a lot of danger.

Benefits Of Using A Mini Excavator

Even though a mini excavator has its limitations, it is still a useful piece of equipment. Here are the advantages of using the tool for removing stumps:

• Unlike the full-sized excavator, the mini excavator is cost-effective.
• They are perfect for tight spaces, hence useful for electricians, plumbers, homeowners, and landscapers.
• Using mini excavators is convenient and better than using your hands.
• These small machines prevent pest infestation in your trees after stump removal. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Best Equipment To Remove Stumps?

A mattock is considered the best tool to remove tree stumps. It is a hand tool that looks like a pickaxe, with one or two blades and a pick on its head. 

Often, the mattock is used for digging and cutting roots to remove stumps from the ground. Even though the mattock can’t get rid of big stumps, it can get rid of smaller ones.

Can I Remove A Stump Myself?

Yes, you can remove a stump by using your hands. But bear in mind that the process can be difficult and tiring. On the other hand, removing stumps by hand can be cost-effective.

For a start, dig around the soil around the stump to expose the root of the tree. Use a handsaw or loppers to cut the roots into small pieces, then pull them out of the ground. After cutting and removing the roots, removing the stumps should be an easy task.

No doubt, some roots will remain in the ground, especially the hard ones. Still, it would be best to use a mini excavator if you have one.

Can A Skid Steer Remove A Tree Stump?

Yes, a skid steer can remove a tree stump from your home environment or work site. However, you need to use the proper attachments to ensure your skid steer does a perfect job. Most of the time, it takes two or more attachments to remove a stump.

Usually, a skid-steer stump bucket is perfect for removing medium-sized stumps. But it can be difficult to get a skid steer attachment that can remove large trees.

Clear the land you want to work on before trying to remove the stumps on it. Doing this will make your work quick and simple.