Sometimes it is necessary to remove old plants that are no longer viable as they used to be, in order to make room for newer and more vigorous plants. Older shrubs also look not exactly pleasant, so it would be best to remove them as soon as they enter their waning phase. This article will show you the most efficient ways to remove or move old shrubs.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Remove Shrubs by Digging
Step 1. Choose the most suitable time of year to dig up old shrubs
It would be best to remove shrubs at a time of year when birds are not building nests to avoid disturbing Mother Nature.
- Try to work during the fall or winter.
- It is usually easier to dig when the soil is relatively dry, so you should also avoid getting to work immediately after a downpour.
Step 2. Gather the necessary tools and materials
You'll need a sharp pair of shears and a small saw to make the job a lot easier. Remember that a sharp blade is always safer.
- A pointed spade will make digging easier, and a pickaxe can come in handy for cutting roots.
- Also remember to wear suitable clothing, including sturdy gardening gloves and sturdy boots.
Step 3. Trim the shrub until there is only one stump left
Use the pruning shears to cut the trunk of the shrub until only a few inches remain.
- Doing this will make it easier to expose its roots and pull them out of the ground, steps required to completely remove the shrub.
- Leaving the roots of the shrub in the ground would allow it to grow back again.
Step 4. Dig a ditch around the stump until the roots are exposed
Use the pointed spade to dig a ditch around the stump. Be careful when digging near water pipes or electrical cables.
Consider calling the power company before you start digging so that you know where any pipes are located
Step 5. Pull the roots out of the ground
Using a spade and pickaxe, work your way through the roots as much as possible to make them easier to remove from the soil.
- Although to prevent the shrub from regrowing it would be enough to remove only the center of the roots and the main roots, it is advisable to also remove as much of the rest of the roots as possible, in order to make room for any new plants to be placed there.
- Shaking the roots to remove the earth will make the plant lighter, allowing you to lift it more easily.
Step 6. Dispose of the newly dug up shrub
Once you've cut the shrub and unearthed the roots, you can dispose of them as you wish. If the shrub is small enough you could try to get some compost out of it, otherwise consider burning the whole thing.
Do not try to make compost from diseased plants: burn them or throw them in the appropriate bins to avoid spreading the disease among other plants
Step 7. Chop any roots left in the soil and add compost
Once you've gotten rid of most of the roots, use a pickaxe or spade to chop up as much of the remaining roots in the soil as possible. breaking up the roots will cause them to rot more quickly, to be absorbed by the soil.
It is a good idea to add manure or compost to the soil, in order to create a more welcoming environment for the plant that will be placed there in the future
Part 2 of 3: Remove Shrubs Using Alternative Methods
Step 1. Dig up the shrub using a chain
One method that allows you to dig far less is to wrap a chain around the base of the shrub and then unearth it using a car jack or tow vehicle.
- Loosening the roots using a pickaxe before removing will help the shrub come off more easily.
- However, you will need to find out where the water, electricity and gas pipes pass, in order to avoid accidentally damaging them.
Step 2. Kill the shrub using chemicals
Trim the trunk of the shrub until only a few inches remain. Purchase a glyphosate-based chemical herbicide from any gardening store.
- The treatment should be applied shortly after cutting; it won't work on an old stump that has been left in the garden for years. Handle the chemical carefully and follow the instructions on the package.
- Do the treatment in the fall or winter, when the sap is not rising. It may be necessary to drill holes in the wood of the stub to then be able to pour the chemical product inside.
- You will need to be patient, as it may take a long time for the stump to die, and the area cannot be immediately reused to accommodate new plants.
Step 3. See if anyone might be interested in your shrub
Even if you want to get rid of it, there may be someone interested in having it in your area.
- You could try advertising it on a local trading site to see if anyone is interested in a free shrub that they will have to dig up for themselves.
- Take a nice picture of the shrub and you will be surprised how many people will be interested.
Part 3 of 3: Moving the Shrubs to a New Location
Step 1. Move your shrub during the fall or winter
Prepare the soil where you want to replant it by incorporating large amounts of manure or compost. If possible, it would be best to do this well in advance of the time when you will actually replant the shrub. Dig up the shrub to move in the fall, after the leaves have fallen, or in the spring, before the new ones sprout.
Step 2. Dig a hole where you want to replant it before you even unearth it from where it currently is
This is an important step, since it will allow you to transfer the shrub as quickly as possible, preventing the roots from undergoing too much stress or drying out.
- To dig a hole, you'll first need to get an idea of the extent of the shrub's roots. By doing this you will be sure that the hole will be of sufficient size. To do this, take a tape measure and find a point on the trunk of the shrub about 6 inches above the ground.
- Measure the diameter of the log at that point. Multiply this by 10 to get the approximate diameter within which the roots extend. Once you have that number, you will need to dig the new hole in such a way that it has a diameter equal to or greater than it.
Step 3. Water the shrub before moving it to a new location
If the soil you are working on is sandy, water the shrub abundantly 2-3 days before moving it. It will help keep the roots as best they can when you dig them up.
Step 4. Dig up the roots
Dig up the root mass by digging with the back of the spade facing the plant. You can move the newly unearthed shrub to the point where you can replant it by placing it on an old sheet or on a tarp and then drag it to the chosen point.
- If you don't have time to replant the shrub immediately, you will need to tie the branches of the shrub upwards to protect them. Start at the bottom, and wrap them in a spiral around the trunk.
- Compact the roots as much as possible, but avoid damaging them or the branches by tying them too tightly.
Step 5. Replant the shrub
Insert the roots of the shrub into the hole you dug, and cover them with soil. Do not press the earth by walking on it, as doing so could damage the roots. Water the shrub abundantly until it is firmly in place.
