DIY
Digging out a stump
Digging out a stump means trenching around it, cutting the roots with a saw and prying the stump from the ground, which Iowa State Extension says suits smaller stumps.
Iowa State Extension calls digging out a stump very labor-intensive but quick. It says the method suits smaller stumps, those less than 12 or so inches in diameter. Digging or pulling the stump of a larger tree is not practical.
The steps it lists: dig a trench one to two feet deep around the stump, saw through each lateral root, then pry the stump to one side with a long, sturdy pry bar to cut roots underneath. Fill the hole with topsoil. Leaving the stump four to six feet tall gives leverage. See lateral roots and topsoil. The guide on DIY removal versus hiring a pro compares costs and effort.