Nobody likes to deal with an old tree stump in their backyard. Fallen tree trunks and old wooden stumps can be hazardous for the household.
However, removing such old wooden tree trunks can be labor-intensive. The natural resistance and durability of wood are a great hindrance to getting rid of it in any form.
So, in this article, I’ll talk about how to make wood rot faster by highlighting some simple steps.
Steps For Faster Wood Decay
Step 1: Get Drilling
The first and foremost step I’d recommend is to drill holes in the wood to retain water and attract insects, along with promoting fungal growth. The fungal growth will help rot the wood fibers while the insects chew on them to make more holes and break them into smaller pieces.
Step 2: Sprinkle Some Fungus
The next step involves infesting the wood with fungi to promote the fast decay of the fallen tree trunk. Sprinkle some fungus spores or place pieces of fungi on the wood to facilitate fungal decay.
You can collect full-grown fungi from nearby rotting wood trunks that can help in its fast rotting. Try to choose the fungal species from rotting tree trunks similar to the wooden log or stump you plan to decay.
Step 3: Keep It Moist
Once you’ve treated the wood with fungal spores, it’s time to keep it moist by covering it with peat moss or sod. In that way, you can also keep the temperature of the wood stable.
The optimal moisture content of 20% and a temperature ranging from 50 ℉ to 90 ℉ can be good enough to promote fungal growth in the wood. However, try not to immerse the wood in water to wash away the fungal spores. Also, sunlight isn’t necessary to promote fungal growth.
Step 4: Add High-Nitrogen Fertilizer
The addition of high-nitrogen fertilizer is also essential for facilitating fungal growth inside the wood. Apply small amounts of the fertilizer near the stump or wooden log base. Only a single application is enough to enhance fungal growth.
Step 5: Pour Granulated Sugar
After treating the wood with fertilizer, wait for a year to pour granulated sugar inside the holes on the wood. The sugar offers additional carbons to facilitate fungal growth. Repeat this method over a few months until the wood has rotten completely.
Final Thoughts
Even though the durability and strength of wooden trunks and logs make it harder to remove them, you can apply the above mentioned natural hacks to rot them faster.
Just follow these five easy steps I’ve explained to speed up the process of wood decay. It’s fast and hassle-free, and you can get rid of any old tree stumps from your backyard with these steps.
That’s all I have to say for now, goodbye!