I have a 3 acre lot it is very rough because it used to be a field and it has lots of small stumps through out the yard.  I'm trying to figure out the best route to take on getting the stumps up and getting it leveled out myself.  I do have a tractor nothing big but its lot small either.

Gasoline/match, controlled fire

Chainsaw the outer roots and pull the stumps out, rinse repeat

I'd trim down the stumps as much as I could. Then put some dirt over it, expensive yes, worth every penny yes.

Is chewing up the stumps with a stump remover out of the question?

Dirt works if you want them gone in a year or so. The other redneck way I know. Involves a long spade drill bit, and diesel fuel. Mind you this is not a over night thing. It might take a summer to do this. First drill a bunch of 3/4-1in holes in the top of the stump. The deeper you go the better, But you don't want to drill through it. Then dump diesel fuel over it. Go slow and let it soak in the stump. Before you pour more on it. Then walk away for week or so. Depending on how dry the stump was when you did it. You might have to put more diesel fuel on it. The theory on this. The stump including the roots. Will soak up the fuel. Then find a way to light it. Yes it will burn every thing. Also make sure you don't have gas lines, waterlines, or other utility lines near the stump. Worked every time I have seen it done.

Dirt works if you want them gone in a year or so. The other redneck way I know. Involves a long spade drill bit, and diesel fuel. Mind you this is not a over night thing. It might take a summer to do this. First drill a bunch of 3/4-1in holes in the top of the stump. The deeper you go the better, But you don't want to drill through it. Then dump diesel fuel over it. Go slow and let it soak in the stump. Before you pour more on it. Then walk away for week or so. Depending on how dry the stump was when you did it. You might have to put more diesel fuel on it. The theory on this. The stump including the roots. Will soak up the fuel. Then find a way to light it. Yes it will burn every thing. Also make sure you don't have gas lines, waterlines, or other utility lines near the stump. Worked every time I have seen it done.

Yes sir! Only way to do it!

We did this on a lot we cleared out and it worked great. We drilled a bunch of holes and actually put diesel (use red diesel from a coop or farm station. Way cheaper) in milk jigs with a few pin holes in the bottom. Stump drank the fuel, and three days later we set them on fire. Came back the next weekend and they were bye bye!

Yes sir! Only way to do it!

We did this on a lot we cleared out and it worked great. We drilled a bunch of holes and actually put diesel (use red diesel from a coop or farm station. Way cheaper) in milk jigs with a few pin holes in the bottom. Stump drank the fuel, and three days later we set them on fire. Came back the next weekend and they were bye bye!

Guys they are just small stumps.. Seems like over kill for small ones.

There's no such thing as overkill to a redneck!

Could you dig around/up root them a bit then tie a tow chain or something like it around the stump and pull them out of the ground with the tractor/truck?

Could you dig around/up root them a bit then tie a tow chain or something like it around the stump and pull them out of the ground with the tractor/truck?

that works but its a lot of work.

Guys they are just small stumps.. Seems like over kill for small ones.

Its not over kill. Heck even doing this is not over kill. It has every thing rednecks love. Fire, explosions, and jets.

Migrant workers and some Dos Equis

Its not over kill. Heck even doing this is not over kill. It has every thing rednecks love. Fire, explosions, and jets.

You Wisconsin rednecks are nuts. I buy firewood from a guy in Lynden Station who lives in a steel shed with cardboard siding. Has his own makeshift demolition derby on his land. Kinda like backyard wrestling only with beater cars.

Guys they are just small stumps.. Seems like over kill for small ones.

Not over kill, called smarter... Not harder. You could dig them up, or pull them individually. No thanks!

You Wisconsin rednecks are nuts. I buy firewood from a guy in Lynden Station who lives in a steel shed with cardboard siding. Has his own makeshift demolition derby on his land. Kinda like backyard wrestling only with beater cars.

We scare you don't we? Just think we might be fishing together this summer. You still want to go out on the lake with me? Here is a older pic of Ma and Pa. The funny thing is. My dad did have facial hair like that, and my mom always had a cig hanging out of her mouth.

I would just rent a stump grinder and get them well down below grade, quick and easy.

 

I had 40 stumps ground in my yard this past summer and I was very happy with the results, this spring will be the backfilling, grading, and seeding the new lawn.

I would just rent a stump grinder and get them well down below grade, quick and easy.

 

I had 40 stumps ground in my yard this past summer and I was very happy with the results, this spring will be the backfilling, grading, and seeding the new lawn.

Would a stump grinder be a good idea to grind up 50 stumps only 5 inches wide? What are you going to be grading with?

If they are only 5 inches wide it may be better to dig around them and pull them out with a truck or come-a-long.  The grinder will work no problem on something that small, but seems to me to be a bit of overkill.

 

I will be renting a mini-excavator and bobcat to do the grading work, and will be hiring someone to deliver all the fill and loam needed for grading.  I he some trenching to do that's why I wanted the excavator, and the bobcat will be for the dirt moving/grading.

Do it the way the old Yankee farmers used to.

 

1.  Get some hogs.

2.  Get some corn kernels or other grain.

3.  Spread them around the trunks of the trees.

4.  Poke some holes into the ground around the stumps. 

5.  Pour the corn kernels and/or grain into the holes.

6.  Enjoy watching the hogs excavate the stump to get at the food.

7.  Pile the stumps for burning, once they dry out.

8.  Convert the fattened hogs to pork chops and bacon.

 

It's a win win.

I that a true story?

I that a true story?

 

To the best of my knowledge it is.

 

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_7691396_use-pigs-remove-stumps.html

 

This is typical of the woodlands in this area.  There are stonewalls that are in the middle of the woods, nowhere near any farm houses or buildings.  Over the years, nature reclaimed those parcels of land that were not maintained.

 

 

I scavenged the old stone walls on my in-law's farm to get the stones to build a fireplace in the home we were building in 1972.

 

 

 

Dirt works if you want them gone in a year or so. The other redneck way I know. Involves a long spade drill bit, and diesel fuel. Mind you this is not a over night thing. It might take a summer to do this. First drill a bunch of 3/4-1in holes in the top of the stump. The deeper you go the better, But you don't want to drill through it. Then dump diesel fuel over it. Go slow and let it soak in the stump. Before you pour more on it. Then walk away for week or so. Depending on how dry the stump was when you did it. You might have to put more diesel fuel on it. The theory on this. The stump including the roots. Will soak up the fuel. Then find a way to light it. Yes it will burn every thing. Also make sure you don't have gas lines, waterlines, or other utility lines near the stump. Worked every time I have seen it done.

This is they way I've always done it but we pour fertilizer in the hole then use diesel to wash it into the wood. The oxidizer makes it burn much hotter.

Roadwarrior , It has to be, its on the www of truthful information don't ya know.

This is they way I've always done it but we pour fertilizer in the hole then use diesel to wash it into the wood. The oxidizer makes it burn much hotter.

Did you ever have one go boom?

We have always used the diesel fuel method as well.  Not a ton of labor, you don't have to struggle with heavy equipment or chains and you can work on other projects while they burn.  Heck, if you look at commercial grade stump removing powder it is just salt peter.  Mix it with a little sulfur and charcoal and the stump will go boom.