The best Way to Dig Up Shrubs Step-by-Step
To effectively remove a shrub, trim it down, dig around the base to loosen soil, cut through roots, leverage the shrub out, and fill the resulting hole with soil and compost, using appropriate tools and protective gear throughout the process.
Gathering Your Tools for the Task
Before you start, arm yourself with the necessary equipment:
A sturdy shovel for digging
Pruning shears for trimming branches
A root saw for cutting through thick roots
Gloves to protect your hands
A Step-by-Step Guide to Digging Up Shrubs
1. Assessing Your Target: There are a lot of signs to remove bushes but first, examine the shrub to understand its size and the spread of its roots. Consider the impact of its removal on nearby plants or structures.
2. Trimming the Shrub for Easier Access: Cut back the branches to the main stem. This reduces the bulk of the shrub and provides better access to the roots, it is a trick that we always use to make it easier to handle.
3. Loosening the Soil Around the Shrub: You need to start digging around the shrub's base, about a foot away from the stem, to avoid slicing through the major roots immediately. Loosen the soil to make root cutting easier similar to digging up weeds.
4. Cutting the Roots: Use your root saw or pruning shears to cut through them. Be methodical, working your way around the shrub to free it from the soil.
5. Leveraging the Shrub Out: With the roots cut now carefully rock the shrub back and forth with the shovel. This action loosens the root ball from the surrounding soil, breaking free any remaining root attachments.
6. Removing the Shrub from the Ground: Now, the shrub should be loose enough to pull out of the ground. If it's particularly large or heavy, you might need additional help to lift and remove it.
Pro Tip: Don't underestimate the weight of your shrubs, when you are removing large shrubs it is better to lift and remove the plant with a second person, because we experienced that the shrubs look easier than they are.
Completing the Cleanup After Diging Up Your Shrub
7. Disposing of the Shrub
Decide how to dispose of the removed deer resistant hedges or bushes for full sun. Composting is an excellent option for organic waste, but be mindful to discard any diseased parts responsibly.
8. Filling the Hole
You’ll be left with a hole and possibly some residual roots. Fill the hole with a mix of soil and compost to promote healthy growth in the area and later on plant new shrubs and reestablish new plants. Remove any large roots left behind to prevent regrowth.
Sources
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General information on removing and digging up bushes and shrubs: How to Remove Large Bushes and Shrubs Safely (thespruce.com), How to Remove Deeply Rooted Bushes and Small Trees (marthastewart.com), How to Clear Large Shrubs Without Damaging Their Roots (wikihow.com), How to Clear Large Shrubs - This Old House
Root removing: Your Guide To Tree Root Removal – Forbes Home
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Calin is in the garden industry for 5 years now and knows a lot about gardening and plants. He is the owner of this website and responsible for most of the content.
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