Okay, so yesterday I tackled a bit of a backyard project that I thought I’d share. We’ve got this old tree stump that’s been a real pain, especially when mowing the lawn. Plus, the roots are starting to mess with the walkway. Time for it to go! But I didn’t want to rent a big machine or call someone, and I figured a good shovel would do the trick. It is called a shovel for cutting roots after all.
First, I grabbed my shovel – not just any shovel, mind you. This one’s got a narrow, serrated blade specifically designed for cutting through roots. I also made sure I had my work gloves on, a good pair of boots, and some safety glasses. You never know when a piece of dirt or root might go flying.
I started by digging around the stump, exposing as many of the large roots as I could. This was the tough part. The soil was pretty compacted, and I hit a few rocks along the way. I just kept at it, taking breaks when I needed them. No need to kill myself out there, it was tiring!
Once I had a decent amount of roots exposed, I got to work with the shovel. I found that the best way was to position the blade against the root and then push down and forward, using my body weight to help cut through. Then, I will just repeat that with another root. Man, some of those roots were thick!
There were a few stubborn ones that just wouldn’t give. For those, I had to dig out around them a bit more to get better leverage. There was definitely some trial and error involved. And I had to sharpen the blade a few times with a file to keep it nice and sharp. So it could take the maximum effciency.
- Expose the roots.
- Position the shovel.
- Push and cut.
- Repeat as needed.
After a few hours of work, I had managed to sever most of the major roots. The stump was starting to loosen up, which was a good sign. I felt a bit like a lumberjack or something, even though it was just a small stump.
Finally, with one last push, and a little help from a pry bar, I got the stump out of the ground. It felt like such a victory. Not sure what I am gonna do with it yet. I’ll figure it out later, maybe I’ll make something cool with it.
It was definitely hard work, but also super satisfying to do it myself. I think using the right kind of shovel was key. If you’ve got a similar project, don’t be afraid to give it a try. Just be patient, take your time, and use the right tools. You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish. And remember to take a break, if you work outside, especially in summer, remember to drink some water! You know, it was not easy, but it is worth it.
And that’s the story of how I took on a tree stump with nothing but a root-cutting shovel and a whole lot of elbow grease. It is not a big deal but I just want to keep a record of my little achievement in life!
