The Tree Stump Removal Trick That May Be Doing More Harm Than Good

Getting rid of a tree stump from your yard can be a massive headache. While there is nothing better than hiring professionals to get the job done as neatly and safely as possible, cost is one of the first things people consider before removing a tree stump. Most people are looking for affordable ways to remove tree stump without herbicides or heavy equipment. This is why homeowners keep trying out several DIY methods. Unfortunately, using diesel fuel to burn the stump down is one of these common methods. Not only is using diesel fuel ineffective for the purpose, but also extremely damaging to the environment and potentially unsafe. In fact, in certain regions, burning a stump can also be illegal, and rightly so.

While a number of drawbacks make this method a bad choice, flammable liquids like diesel fuel often are not even effective at eliminating the entire tree stump. Since diesel fuel burns off quickly, it may not provide the long stretch needed for complete removal of the stump. In fact, in some cases you may find yourself with a semi-charred remnant that looks worse than the original stump, especially if the stump was too thick to be fully saturated by the diesel.

While diesel fuel does not guarantee completely burning the stump, some people may want to try it anyway. However, before and during the time it does burn, it can cause a whole lot of damage to the environment. Any diesel that isn't burned off can resist decomposition and can stay in the environment for a long time. 

Spilled fuel on the ground can find its way into the soil and reach nearby water bodies, where it can wreak havoc with the aquatic wildlife. Not only does it directly hinder life processes of these organisms, but it also cuts off oxygen for the marine fauna by forming a thin layer on top of water. Diesel fuel can have this effect even in small concentrations. Eventually, diesel may also contaminate the groundwater far below the soil.

Diesel fuel is equally disruptive in the soil itself, where it can alter the structure of soil particles, reduce their ability to retain water and minerals, and lower productivity of the soil. Furthermore, the heat generated by the fire can also kill beneficial organisms present in the soil and open the door to pathogens and fungi, which further disrupts the ecosystem. All of this can spell bad news for your lawn. Where once you had an unsightly stump, now you may have an even uglier, half-burned stump and inhospitable soil with patchy grass growth. 

Another major reason why burning the stump is not recommended is the possibility of fire spreading to other areas. Stump fires can get out of control and be hard to extinguish. Especially if the conditions in your region are dry, the ambers produced from the fire are more likely to catch other consumables like grasses and leaves and start more fires. Even if you think the fire is out, the root system can keep burning underground, and ashes can remain active and reignite days afterward.
Some states and counties also have strict regulations around stump burning to prevent the possibility of wildfires and air pollution. You'll need a legal permit in these areas to remove a stump with fire.

In order to keep the stump fire safe, you'd have to keep a close watch — but it's not good to get too close. Prolonged exposure to diesel fuel vapors can lead to conditions like nausea and headaches, and burning wood can add harmful particulate matter to the atmosphere and trigger illnesses, like asthma. Wood combustion can also produce emissions, such as formaldehyde and dioxins that are extremely toxic for health.

While burning diesel fuel may not be the wisest way to remove your tree stump, it doesn't mean you have to let the stump stay as an eyesore in your yard. There are plenty of other natural and convenient methods of removing tree stumps that do not damage the environment and are completely safe to use. For instance, you can easily remove tree stumps from your yard with Epsom salt. You can also use grinding machinery to get rid of the stump just as effectively.