Ways to dig up a tree

[gazwigan]

This may seem like a silly question as the obvious answer to dig and graft at it, however, these trees have been in around 20 years and i'm not making much progress, is there any way of escalating the process?

[landscaper2]

You have three choices: graft, hire a stump grinder(�60ish) of get someone in. Go for the first - much healthier! Cut the top off the tree, leaving about 2.5mtrs of trunk. With a good spade, sharp axe or mattock, dig yourself a trench round the tree at least big enough to stand in and chop thru the roots as you come to them. If its still solid after you've been round once to a depth of about 45cm, off you go again and you will find maybe one or two more. Give the trunk a few pulls and with the leverage you will topple the tree . Two or three hours should do the trick.

[nonomaybe]

I suspect gazwigan that landscaper2 is about 7 feet tall and built like the proverbial outhouse to consider doing all that in such a short time !!!!

[landscaper2]

........I'm not - honest! Actually, I meant 2-3hrs to dig the stump out - not to cut down etc.