Stumps - how prevent them from poisoning the soil?

Helen Skaleris
by Helen Skaleris
We recently cut down the 30+ year old ugly bushes in front of our house. The stumps are not in the flower beds just above the soil line. Is there anything we can to do to help them deteriorate faster and not poison the soil?

  9 answers
  • Lisa S. Lisa S. on Apr 02, 2018

    Anything you do chemically is going to affect the soil. However, I would drill large holes and fill with white vinegar and plain rock salt.

  • DebM DebM on Apr 02, 2018

    Drilling holes in the stumps and using crossbow or glycophosphate (round up concentrate) to fill the holes will not affect your soil at all. Either choice is far superior to salt and vinegar (which are fine for weeds but stumps have root systems you want to be sure start dying asap so they don't start throwing suckers). As always, wear gloves and avoid windy days.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Apr 02, 2018

    drill holes anthem and use Salt,stump out or rock salt

  • Patty Dell'Anno Patty Dell'Anno on Apr 02, 2018

    I wouldn't use round up. It's poisonous to people and pets. It gets in the water systems and affects everyone...

  • Itsmemic Itsmemic on Apr 02, 2018

    ROUNDUP IS DEADLY !!! Hire a stump grinder and be done with it. You can even rent one. It will take very little time and your problem will be gone.

  • William William on Apr 02, 2018

    They won't poison the soil they will just rot away. Use the holes and salt to break them down quicker. Any chemicals WILLl contaminate the soil.

  • Joy30150932 Joy30150932 on Apr 02, 2018

    You could drill deep holes into the stumps and insert some Epsom salts. This makes the stump break down faster without having to pull them out.

  • Russbow Russbow on Apr 02, 2018

    Note to all who answered, she said BUSHES, It is doubtfull there is room to drill any holes. Salt WILL contaminate the soil, Roundup is NOT dangerous, its a wildly held myth., when the directions are followed. Within 4 to 6 days or so, ANY contact Roundup has with organic DIRT, it is completely rendered inert. If she would post the average diameter of the bushes cut down, it would help.


  • Helen Skaleris Helen Skaleris on Apr 02, 2018

    Thank you so much everyone! The stumps are about 6 in wide.