• After you cut down a tree, you have to deal with getting rid of the roots. Some can be difficult to remove. Uncut tree roots can lead to diseases, such as honey fungus. The roots also can impede growth nearby. With the right tools, you should be able to remove or reduce roots efficiently.
  
  

Grinder

• Grinders shred the tree stump into sawdust. If you do not own a grinder, you can rent one at rental stores or home improvement centers. Using this tool, you don't have to remove the roots. Instead, you grind them to ground level.
  
  

Skid steer

• Skid steers can remove small-sized to medium-sized tree roots quickly. A skid steer is a machine maneuvered by skid steering--braking or engaging tracks or wheels on one side of the device. They also are available to rent.
  
  

Backhoe

• A backhoe can pull out tree roots. A backhoe is a piece of excavating machinery that has a digging bucket on the end of a two-part arm.
  
  

Hand Tools

• Hand tools work well if you have a small, shallow-rooted tree. You'll need a shovel, ax (or grub hoe with an ax head), loppers and a root saw.