I got someone to cut down a rather too tall and significantly too
unsightly fir tree at the front of the house. During the negotiations
over a price for cutting it down and taking it away I was assured that
they weren't cowboys like some of them out there, and that there unlike
many they knew there was no point in cutting down a tree and not doing
anything about the roots. By this time I was only half paying attention
because my children were doing something dangerous with a ladder, but I
had a vague impression they'd do something specialised and difficult
(but important) with the roots.

After 45 minutes' work with a chainsaw, including a few breaks to
sharpen its teeth with a rusty metal file, the three of them had removed
everything except the stump. Then one of them cut a slot in the stump,
and another poured in what looked like engine oil, which in fact it
turned out to be. I started to get an explanation about the engine oil,
but then I could see from the arc of water jetting into the neighbours'
garden that the children were out at the back messing around with the
hose-pipe, so I couldn't give it my full attention.

So anyway, what is this idea that the roots need to have something fatal
done to them? If a 7-metre fir tree has been reduced to a stump that's
pretty much it, isn't it? It's not going anywhere after that. And what's
this business of the engine oil?

Daniele
--
Apple Juice Ltd
Chapter Arts Centre
Market Road www.apple-juice.co.uk
Cardiff CF5 1QE 029 2019 0140

On 14 Feb 2004, D.M. Procida wrote

-snip-

So anyway, what is this idea that the roots need to have something
fatal done to them? If a 7-metre fir tree has been reduced to a
stump that's pretty much it, isn't it? It's not going anywhere
after that.

A lot depends on the type of tree, I think: on some, leaving the live
roots can generate new shoots off the stump, and you wind up with a
bunch of new brances from the base. (A multi-trunked shrub rather than
a single-trunked tree.)

I've cut down two trees without killing the roots: a plum tree (not a
bit of life in it), and a holly tree (which regenerated as a vigorous
shrub.)

And what's this business of the engine oil?

To poison the roots, and block the shoots.

(Hey! That rhymes! If your tree-fellers adopt it as a slogan, I want
royalties.....)

--
Cheers,
Harvey

For e-mail, change harvey to whhvs.

Some stump killing poisons are mixed in a little oil and poured into a hole
in the stump whereupon it is taken up by the roots. That may be what has
happened here.
"D.M. Procida" wrote in
message
...
I got someone to cut down a rather too tall and significantly too
unsightly fir tree at the front of the house. During the negotiations
over a price for cutting it down and taking it away I was assured that
they weren't cowboys like some of them out there, and that there unlike
many they knew there was no point in cutting down a tree and not doing
anything about the roots. By this time I was only half paying attention
because my children were doing something dangerous with a ladder, but I
had a vague impression they'd do something specialised and difficult
(but important) with the roots.

After 45 minutes' work with a chainsaw, including a few breaks to
sharpen its teeth with a rusty metal file, the three of them had removed
everything except the stump. Then one of them cut a slot in the stump,
and another poured in what looked like engine oil, which in fact it
turned out to be. I started to get an explanation about the engine oil,
but then I could see from the arc of water jetting into the neighbours'
garden that the children were out at the back messing around with the
hose-pipe, so I couldn't give it my full attention.

So anyway, what is this idea that the roots need to have something fatal
done to them? If a 7-metre fir tree has been reduced to a stump that's
pretty much it, isn't it? It's not going anywhere after that. And what's
this business of the engine oil?

Daniele
--
Apple Juice Ltd
Chapter Arts Centre
Market Road www.apple-juice.co.uk
Cardiff CF5 1QE 029 2019 0140

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 21:42:24 +0000, D.M. Procida wrote:

I got someone to cut down a rather too tall and significantly too
unsightly fir tree at the front of the house. During the negotiations
over a price for cutting it down and taking it away I was assured that
they weren't cowboys like some of them out there, and that there unlike
many they knew there was no point in cutting down a tree and not doing
anything about the roots. By this time I was only half paying attention
because my children were doing something dangerous with a ladder, but I
had a vague impression they'd do something specialised and difficult
(but important) with the roots.

After 45 minutes' work with a chainsaw, including a few breaks to
sharpen its teeth with a rusty metal file, the three of them had removed
everything except the stump. Then one of them cut a slot in the stump,
and another poured in what looked like engine oil, which in fact it
turned out to be. I started to get an explanation about the engine oil,
but then I could see from the arc of water jetting into the neighbours'
garden that the children were out at the back messing around with the
hose-pipe, so I couldn't give it my full attention.

So anyway, what is this idea that the roots need to have something fatal
done to them? If a 7-metre fir tree has been reduced to a stump that's
pretty much it, isn't it? It's not going anywhere after that. And what's
this business of the engine oil?

I guess it's to kill the stump. I have had to remove large bushes and to
prevent their regrowth I drilled the stump and poured in Creosote. I guess
engine oil is an equivalent product.

One the stump is fuly dead ( a year or so I'd guees) it should be easier
to grub out.

--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

(D.M. Procida) wrote in
:


So anyway, what is this idea that the roots need to have something fatal
done to them? If a 7-metre fir tree has been reduced to a stump that's
pretty much it, isn't it? It's not going anywhere after that. And what's
this business of the engine oil?

Daniele

Trees are practically unkillable by brute force, they are capable of
sprouting from a small stump and this fact is used in coppicing.

It would have been nice if theyd taken the stump to below ground level with
a stump grinder, and then applied the proper stuff (no I don't know what it
is, but kills the tree and promotes rotting).

But as long as it's dead....

If it shows signs of life, drill a biggish hole and fill with an SBK and
paraffin mix, that'll fix it

mike r

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 21:42:24 +0000,
(D.M. Procida) wrote:

So anyway, what is this idea that the roots need to have something fatal
done to them?

Unless killed they manage to hang on to existence for a remarkable
time. The know methods are a suitable herbicide mixed with oil or
minced child - something no organism can survive. I fear you have
missed you opportunity here.


--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/

D.M. Procida wrote on Saturday (14/02/2004) :
So anyway, what is this idea that the roots need to have something fatal
done to them? If a 7-metre fir tree has been reduced to a stump that's
pretty much it, isn't it? It's not going anywhere after that. And what's
this business of the engine oil?

As others have indicated, it will quite likely sprout again from the
stump. Engine oil or even better diesel will kill the stump and help it
to eventually rot.

--

Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.org

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 23:55:32 GMT, Harry Bloomfield
wrote:

D.M. Procida wrote on Saturday (14/02/2004) :
So anyway, what is this idea that the roots need to have something fatal
done to them? If a 7-metre fir tree has been reduced to a stump that's
pretty much it, isn't it? It's not going anywhere after that. And what's
this business of the engine oil?

As others have indicated, it will quite likely sprout again from the
stump. Engine oil or even better diesel will kill the stump and help it
to eventually rot.

Does this even work for ash trees? I am trying to get rid of the
stump of a tenacious one.

What is the effect of using the oil/diesel in the deadly mix?

..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

Peter Parry wrote:

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 21:42:24 +0000,
(D.M. Procida) wrote:


So anyway, what is this idea that the roots need to have something fatal
done to them?


Unless killed they manage to hang on to existence for a remarkable
time. The know methods are a suitable herbicide mixed with oil or
minced child - something no organism can survive. I fear you have
missed you opportunity here.




I waited 6 months and built a fire on an old leylandii stump. Smouldered
for days.

The other stumps got the 3 ton digger attack. Fun and they came up
eventually.

As others have indicated, it will quite likely sprout again from the
stump. Engine oil or even better diesel will kill the stump and help it
to eventually rot.

Oil will act as a preservative.


Does this even work for ash trees? I am trying to get rid of the
stump of a tenacious one.

You need to get the poison into the roots.

Drill a number of holes about six inches deep around the edge of the stump.
Pour SBK brushwood killer in the holes.


What is the effect of using the oil/diesel in the deadly mix?

Simply a way to distribute the agent readily. Not very effective because it
needs to get into the sytem of the tree not just the surface

Peter Crosland wrote:

As others have indicated, it will quite likely sprout again from the
stump. Engine oil or even better diesel will kill the stump and help it
to eventually rot.

Oil will act as a preservative.


Does this even work for ash trees? I am trying to get rid of the
stump of a tenacious one.

You need to get the poison into the roots.

Drill a number of holes about six inches deep around the edge of the stump.
Pour SBK brushwood killer in the holes.

Reminds of the time back home in NZ when my father decided the rubber
tree had to go. Well after the fun of sitting in it with a chainsaw
removing large branches (pruning saw impossible to use). We got it down
to a stump about 1 foot off the ground. The idea to drill some holes and
pour poison in was mooted so muggins here gets the brace and bit out (I
kid you not) and drills about 8 such holes in the base of this stump.
Just as I finished a mate of my brother in law's dropped by with his
huge chainsaw (the blade was at least 1m long) and proceeded to cut it
down to ground level. My father did have to remove a few suckers but
after about a year no more came up (I was not about to drill more
holes).

Peter

On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 08:51:06 GMT, (Peter
Ashby) wrote:

Peter Crosland wrote:

As others have indicated, it will quite likely sprout again from the
stump. Engine oil or even better diesel will kill the stump and help it
to eventually rot.

Oil will act as a preservative.


Does this even work for ash trees? I am trying to get rid of the
stump of a tenacious one.

You need to get the poison into the roots.

Drill a number of holes about six inches deep around the edge of the stump.
Pour SBK brushwood killer in the holes.

Reminds of the time back home in NZ when my father decided the rubber
tree had to go. Well after the fun of sitting in it with a chainsaw
removing large branches (pruning saw impossible to use). We got it down
to a stump about 1 foot off the ground. The idea to drill some holes and
pour poison in was mooted so muggins here gets the brace and bit out (I
kid you not) and drills about 8 such holes in the base of this stump.
Just as I finished a mate of my brother in law's dropped by with his
huge chainsaw (the blade was at least 1m long) and proceeded to cut it
down to ground level. My father did have to remove a few suckers but
after about a year no more came up (I was not about to drill more
holes).

Peter


So it didn't bounce back then?

Sorry :-)



..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 23:55:32 GMT, Harry Bloomfield
wrote:

D.M. Procida wrote on Saturday (14/02/2004) :
So anyway, what is this idea that the roots need to have something fatal
done to them? If a 7-metre fir tree has been reduced to a stump that's

Most "fir" trees do not coppice, in fact I can only think of two that
do.

pretty much it, isn't it? It's not going anywhere after that. And what's
this business of the engine oil?

Free disposal method that pollutes ground water.

As others have indicated, it will quite likely sprout again from the
stump. Engine oil or even better diesel will kill the stump and help it
to eventually rot.

Just cutting the green bits off will cause most conifers to die (yew
is not technically a conifer, wellingtonia will coppice as will,
allegedly, monkey puzzle).

Most environmentally friendly stump killer is ammonium sulphamate.

AJH

Jezebel S. Sim wrote in
.com:

This is a living thing your talking about. Have a bit of respect.

For a B***** Leylandi??????

mike r

mike ring wrote:

Jezebel S. Sim wrote in
.com:

This is a living thing your talking about. Have a bit of respect.


For a B***** Leylandi??????



Leylandii ain't a fir. Its a cypress.


mike r

The Lord alerted my mind to the presence of this EVIL article by Harry
Bloomfield, and I thusly replied:

As others have indicated, it will quite likely sprout again from the
stump.

STOP IT!!

--
The Reverend Parson Peter Parsnip
Smiting Sinful Usenet Users Since 1874

"A ******* shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his
tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord."
- Deuteronomy 23:2

The Natural Philosopher wrote in :



For a B***** Leylandi??????



Leylandii ain't a fir. Its a cypress.


Don't you hate smart kids?

mike r

"Philosophers who're are up on trees
And floor you with them flat
I've got them on my list"

The Lord alerted my mind to the presence of this EVIL article by Pirx Teh
Caravan Pilot, and I thusly replied:

In article m,
The Right Rev. Peter Parsnip
wrote:
The Lord alerted my mind to the presence of this EVIL article by Harry
Bloomfield, and I thusly replied:

As others have indicated, it will quite likely sprout again from the
stump.

STOP IT!!

What's he on about now?

I can only presume it's another euphemism for his filthy preverted antics.

--
The Reverend Parson Peter Parsnip
Smiting Sinful Usenet Users Since 1874

"A ******* shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his
tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord."
- Deuteronomy 23:2