Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners
  • Home
  • Landscaping
    • Decking
    • Driveways
    • Garden Patios
    • Garden drainage
    • Fencing
    • Turfing
    • Planting
  • Design
    • Landscaping Ideas
  • Resources
    • Garden products
    • Privacy Policy
  • News
  • Contact
    • landscaping apprenticeship jobs buckinghamshire
    • landscaping labourer jobs buckinghamshire
  • Home
  • Landscaping
    • Decking
    • Driveways
    • Garden Patios
    • Garden drainage
    • Fencing
    • Turfing
    • Planting
  • Design
    • Landscaping Ideas
  • Resources
    • Garden products
    • Privacy Policy
  • News
  • Contact
    • landscaping apprenticeship jobs buckinghamshire
    • landscaping labourer jobs buckinghamshire

How to get rid of shrubs from the garden?

12/3/2022

0 Comments

 
how to get rid of shrubs from your garden
This article contains affiliate links


Shrubs are an essential addition to any garden planting scheme. Not only do they provide a backdrop to shorter plants they also help to soften fences and screen bad views.

Shrubs have a variety of other visual attributes such as decorative flowers and foliage.
However many shrubs, once established can become very large and difficult to maintain.

When shrubs get very large, they lose their natural form and have to be cut into geometric shapes. Many times, we choose to simply get rid of shrubs which have become too cumbersome.

The only problem is many shrubs have the vigour of small trees with robust roots and tough bases. This can make them very challenging to get rid of without adopting some heavy-duty digging and chopping.

It is reassuring to know that it is very possible to get rid of shrubs from your garden if you follow a process.

​In this article I will explain how to get rid of shrubs by the roots with some other shrub removal tips and hacks. 
​
Shrub

How to get rid of shrubs by hand

​
​The uncomfortable truth is the most practical way to remove shrubs is by hand.

Ideally the best time of year to dig out a shrub or stump is during the spring. At this time of year the ground has higher moisture content from the previous winter months.

This makes it easier to dislodge stubborn roots and start to work the stump loose. The most important aspect of digging shrubs out by hand is using the correct tools and methodology.

​We will describe all of these below. 

Best tools for removing shrubs
​

  • Spade
  • Digging bar
  • Grafting spade
  • Mattock
  • Hand saw
  • Loppers
  • Sledge hammer
  • Buckets
  • Power drill 

Step 1:

​Trim off most of the shrubs foliage and branches but keep as much of the central trunk as possible. This central trunk will allow you to pull at the stump and roots with mechanical leverage. 

Step 2:

Excavate a trench all the way around the root mass of the shrub as close to the roots as possible. You should try to dig at least 300mm deep and scoop the loose soil out of the excavation. Try to dig under the root mass as much as possible and clear compacted soil around from the anchor roots. 
​
Digging out shrubs

Step 3:

Using a digging bar, grafting spade or mattock, chop through any anchor roots you come across. Most shrubs have lateral anchor roots all the way around the trunk with a central tap root. The central tap root is typically tough and penetrates the ground vertically providing stability. You need to chop out as many side anchors as possible to begin to rock the stump on the tap root. 
​

Step 4:

​Any large roots which are too thick to chop through must be cut with an old a saw. At this point you should be able to move the whole stump by pulling on the trunk. Thrust the trunk back and forth and from the movement work out where the roots are still attached.
​
digging out shrub stumps

Step 5:

​Excavate out soil and explore for further roots which are preventing you from pulling the stump over. When you discover extra hidden anchor roots dig around them to expose them and chop them out. 

Step 6:

​Eventually you will be able to rock the stump via the trunk easily and violently from side to side. At this point it is probable that only the central tap root now remains. Keep rocking the trunk robustly to dislodge compacted soil and to try to snap the tap root. 
​
Shrub stump

Step 7:

​If the shrub has a very strong tap root you will find it is difficult to move the stump even a little. If so, try impacting the stump with a sledgehammer to try to loosen its grip on the ground. Go very easy at first and do not swing the hammer too far in case you miss.

Step 8:

​If the shrub has thick roots you can use a power drill to weaken them. Using a power drill, core out holes from the centre of thick roots. This will weaken them significantly and make them easier to snap out of the ground. 

Step 9:

​If you are having trouble breaking the central tap root you can chop it horizontally with a grafting spade. Gradually chop at the root until it is severely weakened or snaps completely. 
​ 

Step 10:

​Once the stump is removed chop out any large surface roots with a mattock or spade. Turn over the ground and level it well for future cultivation. 

Removing a shrub with a vehicle


If you are having particular difficulty removing a bush by hand you can wrench it out with a vehicle. However if you do this, I strongly recommend that you excavate around the bush first.

Some shrubs can even be too stubborn for some vehicles to pull out. Excavating first will ensure less chance of damage to the vehicle.

Make sure you use a strong rope and slowly increase tension with the accelerator. Never gain any speed and try to yank out a shrub by force.
​
Below we have embedded a video on how to remove a shrub with a vehicle correctly. 
Picture
Picture
Picture


'As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases'
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    The
    ​Author 

    Paul Nicolaides 
    BA (Hons) Dip

    Paul Nicolaides has over 30 years of recreational gardening and 20 years of professional landscaping experience. He has worked for landscape contractors including design and build practices across London and the South East. In 2006 he qualified with a BA Hons degree and post graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture. In 2009 he founded Ecospaces an ecological landscaping practice which aims to improve social cohesion and reduce climate change through landscaping. In 2016 he founded Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners which designs and builds gardens across Buckinghamshire and the South East. This blog aims to provide easy problem solving information to its audience and encourage others to take up the joy of landscaping and gardening. 
Serving the landscapes of Buckinghamshire, Norfolk & Norwich

Hyde Heath, Amersham, Buckinghamshire

Long Stratton,
Norwich, Norfolk

www.norfolknorwichlandscapers.com

What Our Clients Are Saying

​Paul laid a very curvy brick mow strip all around our lawn and also added a circular patio and added some new grassed areas. He paid so much attention to each brick laid to make sure the end results was perfect. Despite the wet and muddy work everything was made good and looked amazing once finished. His enthusiasm and knowledge for the garden and plants was infectious. He even fixed a couple of broken paving slabs that he saw down our side alley without being asked It is refreshing to see someone take so much pride and care in their work and we would definitely book him again for any other garden project.
Privacy Policy

Contact Us

    Newsletter Subscription

Subscribe to Newsletter
Photos used under Creative Commons from Maggie Hoffman, Aaron Volkening, Darlene Roelofsen, David Paul Ohmer, denis.zabin, Permaculture Association, Bill Selak, The fixed factor, The Garden Smallholder, Tauralbus, nan palmero, Lee Cannon, Monkeystyle3000, Darlene Roelofsen, nicolas.boullosa, Bryn Pinzgauer, cattan2011, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Matthew Paul Argall, tdlucas5000, Acabashi, Ronald (Ron) Douglas Frazier, Gilles Gonthier, Martin Hesketh, Owen P, steve p2008, Bennilover, *_*, blumenbiene, Julianna, Daryll90ca, Wendell Smith, Acabashi, Decorative Concrete Kingdom, Permaculture Association, MizGingerSnaps, Tjflex2, wuestenigel, travel oriented, Aaron Volkening, shixart1985, SupportPDX, pete. #hwcp, MostlyDross, Local Food Initiative, Ronald Douglas Frazier, Oregon State University, perfectgrassltd, aarongunnar, Acabashi, Actual Brian Crawford, jeans_Photos, alh1, Darlene Roelofsen, Rromani from Romania, docoverachiever, tawalker, markfountain52, Maria Eklind, treegrow, deckerme, Kevan, richardghawley, Ivan Radic, Mark Wordy, garryknight, Matt Lavin, greger.ravik, Capt' Gorgeous, LWT Gunnersbury Triangle, Wonderlane, Rudi1976, stonescape, Dinesh Valke, troutcolor, Acabashi, Juhele_CZ, Darlene Roelofsen, pikkuanna, tdlucas5000, Jocey K, Acabashi, focusonmore.com, BethinAZ, zoetnet, kurt.stocker, Monkeystyle3000, ell brown, Bryn Pinzgauer, Mark Wordy, infomatique, Linda N., Armcon Precast, Tinkers Moon, AnnSophieQ, mikecogh, Bob Klannukarn, Aiko, Thomas & Juliette+Isaac, ChrisHamby, Alessandro_Corsoni, Stiller Beobachter, GLVF, denisbin, MizGingerSnaps, garryknight, goforchris, Dick Thompson Sandian, alljengi, Paul Comstock, Kelowna09, Decorative Concrete Kingdom, Kanesue, BlossomPDX, Wonderlane, alh1, PAUL (Van de Velde) -Fotografie, Paul and Jill, Gilles Gonthier, katunchik, thinkactlove, gidlark, jugreen_de, Ivan Radic, tompagenet, corsi photo, www.to-tuscany.com, Mark Wordy, UC Davis Arboretum & Public Garden, Aaron Volkening, Mark AC Photos, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, arripay, denisbin, alans1948, wallygrom, Frank.Vassen, alh1, Scottb211, LenkinDesign, wallygrom, Mike Bonitz, Aaron Volkening, juliamaudlin, dwblakey, Jocelyn777 Love Europe, mikecogh, jeans_Photos, Corey Leopold, Jeremy Levine Design, Kaibab National Forest Photography, Ciarán Mooney, onnola, 35mmMan, longlabcomms, nc.hort, Jamiecat *, pom'., Puddin Tain, Acabashi, tompagenet, Loz Flowers, Alan Stanton, Darlene Roelofsen, michael clarke stuff, La Citta Vita, jeremy_norbury, gbohne, jmeissen, blumenbiene, Scrap Pile, eibar, Allan Hack, 4nitsirk, Phil Gayton, Michele Dorsey Walfred, Ruth and Dave, AnnSophieQ, pete. #hwcp, regina11163, Matt Lavin, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋), john.purvis, MikeHawkwind, Key West Wedding Photography, alh1, hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou, tristanf, shixart1985, blumenbiene, Paul Comstock, Michele Dorsey Walfred, Seattle Parks & Recreation, MCristian2013, Ruth and Dave, alh1, Matt From London, Ruth and Dave, Matt Lavin, ndrwfgg, Mara ~earth light~ free potential, radio silence, wallygrom, Maria Eklind, brewbooks, denisbin, Maria Eklind, F. D. Richards, Tauralbus, samsaundersbristol, carolinezimmermann.com, Maria Eklind, roger4336, MAMM Miguel Angel, Jeanne Menjoulet, Mark Wordy, Mark Wordy, stanzebla, hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou, wbaiv, Tauralbus, Sharon Mollerus, dsearls, denisbin, OregonDOT, Tatiana12, ell brown, puffin11uk, Croydon Clicker, LodestonePhotography, Ronald Douglas Frazier, Tauralbus, basak senova, Vicky Brock, Ivan Radic, dalbera, Melanie-m, La Citta Vita, Ross A Hall, alh1, Allan Henderson, Sharon Mollerus, SJU Undergraduate Admissions, dungodung, Sustainable Economies Law Center, Puddin Tain, alh1, Firebirdflame, Deanster1983 who's mostly off, gbohne, ell brown, grassrootsgroundswell, gertjanvannoord, thetalesend, Tony Armstrong-Sly, Mark Wordy, Hub☺, rcamboim, Sandrine Rouja, Oregon State University, Darlene Roelofsen, danciminera, harum.koh, Baugher Webmaster Services, HerryLawford, Gail Frederick, wallygrom, Neilhooting, Arnie Papp, foilman, Stephi 2006, Mom the Barbarian, Ivan Radic, 雷太, Arty Guerillas, marcoverch, JPC24M, Chik_v, mikecogh, Robert T Bell, LenkinDesign, sugarfrizz, mikecogh, heyexit, grabadonut, JohnSeb, alljengi, Permaculture Association, LennyWorthington, wallygrom, waferboard, wallygrom, STC4blues, gailhampshire, RJJ245, travelling_eidolon, Me in ME, prof.bizzarro, foilman, Maurizio Albissola.com, dejankrsmanovic, André Hofmeister, It's No Game, Sterling College, wallygrom, Permaculture Association, Martin Cooper Ipswich, hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou, InvisibleGarden.org, irio.jyske, MeganEHansen, F. D. Richards, John Rusk, conall.., thatredhead4, tedeytan, tawalker, Vicky Brock, Infomastern, Paul and Jill, Starr Environmental, *_*, don_macauley, s1ng0, orangeaurochs, John McLinden, karenandbrademerson, wallygrom, Tobyotter, Sustainable Economies Law Center, akhouseproject, chimpwithcan, heystax, Puddin Tain, winecountrymedia, Landscape Design Advisor, Darlene Roelofsen, ell brown, Deanster1983 who's mostly off, Michele Dorsey Walfred, Günter Hentschel, watts_photos, Morgaine, 阿橋花譜 KHQ Flower Guide, Local Food Initiative, tdlucas5000, Ruth and Dave, BulletproofSloth, London Less Travelled, Andrew Stawarz, Michele Dorsey Walfred, midwestlawnandlandscape, Darlene Roelofsen, sybarite48, Pam_Broviak, Gail Frederick, massmatt, Grow It, Catch It, Cook It, D H Wright, chuck b., Maria Eklind, wuestenigel, amandabhslater, timo_w2s, 666isMONEY ☮ ♥ & ☠, Wendell Smith, shixart1985, gailhampshire, mriggen, poppet with a camera, James St. John, liveoncelivewild, urbanfoodie33, wallygrom, onnola, shixart1985, Darien Library, emmacraig1, wuestenigel, laijos, matsuyuki, Monkeystyle3000, anoldent, alh1, mikecogh, HerryLawford, MeganEHansen, Michele Dorsey Walfred, cattan2011, ScotGov Rural, North Charleston, juantiagues, Rosmarie Voegtli, pstenzel71, RaeAllen, Edna Winti, Matt Lavin, S∆M.I.∆M, alh1, Starr Environmental, comedy_nose, Alizarin Krimson, jmlwinder, sebastian.rittau, mikecogh, Scott McLeod, alh1, Mark Wordy, shixart1985, transport131, Nick Saltmarsh, owlhere, Maria Eklind, agulivanov, woodleywonderworks, HerryLawford, Darlene Roelofsen, Ivan Radic, Paakkonen Photo, ell brown, Smoobs, liesvanrompaey, Mark Wordy, stonescape, Darlene Roelofsen, AndreyZharkikh, Larry Lamsa, wallygrom, cazalegg, *_*, Charles Patrick Ewing, kamirao, cricketsblog, Mary Gillham Archive Project, deczak, Doolallyally, RASSIL, Smudge 9000, Loz Flowers, stanzebla, Acabashi, treegrow, jmlwinder, HerryLawford, edenpictures, wlcutler, shaire productions, S John Davey, Doolallyally, Percita, Prof. Mortel, Björn S..., mikecogh, @tc_goatwriter, *_*, Frank.Vassen, Robbie1, foilman, garryknight, EliteBalustradeImages, Derek N Winterburn, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, redirockphotodatabase, alh1, yewchan, Gunnar Ries zwo, hedera.baltica, itmpa, bluefootedbooby, john shortland, Fiberon, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Darlene Roelofsen, Aaron Volkening, yellow book, M. Martin Vicente, David Paul Ohmer, amandabhslater, Dinesh Valke, jeans_Photos, grongar, arripay, Maria Eklind, Key West Wedding Photography, Phil Gayton, steve p2008, Anton Rannala, amandabhslater, patrick_standish, Akuppa, cristina.sanvito, Puddin Tain, waferboard, Mark Wordy, Mike Bonitz, Juanedc, Björn S..., Clive Varley, vastateparksstaff, madaise, edenpictures, plentyofants, kitmasterbloke, barnoid, mark.hogan, chuck b., F. D. Richards, Ivan Radic, *rboed*, sustainablejill, Martin Pettitt, Thien Gretchen, Atmovera, mikecogh, Wildroof, tompagenet, jacilluch, wlcutler, stanzebla, La Citta Vita, Rob.Bertholf, Landscape Design Advisor, Aaron Volkening, osiristhe, MarilynJane, wallygrom, spinster, Maria Eklind, hedera.baltica, kewl, Dave_S., Julia Manzerova, Landscape Design Advisor, ActiveSteve, onnola, mikecogh, Ankur Panchbudhe, Phil Gayton, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Tatters ✾, ianpreston, Ruth and Dave, wallygrom, titanium22, T.Kiya, PAUL (Van de Velde) -Fotografie, stanzebla - voyage voyage, yellow book, Aaron Volkening, MeganEHansen, puffin11uk, Maria Eklind, TravelBakerCounty, Acabashi, Keith Laverack, quinet, anro0002, NSPaul, mikecogh, sybarite48, amandabhslater, ell brown, alljengi, wallygrom, LWT Gunnersbury Triangle, the real Kam75, mikecogh, lupisfer, piropiro3, Beverly Pearl, hedera.baltica, Deanster1983 who's mostly off, Michele Dorsey Walfred, edenpictures, berriehol, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Mick E. Talbot, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, string_bass_dave, danperry.com, Peter Curbishley, sybarite48, alh1, M. Martin Vicente, Amarnath, loutraje, conall.., goforchris, USFWS Headquarters, ianpreston, F. D. Richards, quinet, jmlwinder, carabou, wallygrom, wallygrom, engcon, nicolas.boullosa, wwarby, fringedbenefit, Crinklecrankle.com, Jim Morefield, F. D. Richards, MizGingerSnaps, Lauren Gutierrez, Tim Green aka atoach, daryl_mitchell, wallygrom, yewchan, Green Mountain Girls Farm, Darlene Roelofsen, HerryLawford, treegrow, Kirt Edblom, Eric Kilby, Barbara Walsh Photography, Jocelyn777 Love Europe, CaptainOates, Acabashi, Ninara31, amandabhslater, wickenden, ShebleyCL, sunshinecity, Ivan Radic, Matt Lavin, James St. John, quinet, goforchris, charlieishere@btinternet.com, cattan2011, Kaibab National Forest Photography, dollarclassics, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, Jocelyn777 Love Europe, Andrew Coombes, cwellsny, JeepersMedia, amandabhslater, wallygrom, alh1, Mark Wordy, Thank You (22 Millions+) views, USDAgov, Acabashi, F. D. Richards, Macleay Grass Man, Alexander C. Kafka, Darlene Roelofsen, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, wahoowins, andres musta, Mary Gillham Archive Project, wallygrom, Russ2009, Permaculture Association, Rennett Stowe, Ruth and Dave, F. D. Richards, Teddy Mafia, texturepalace, puffin11uk, georgegillams, Darlene Roelofsen, crustmania, denisbin, waferboard, denisbin, Audire Silentium, LenkinDesign, akfoto, MeganEHansen, amandabhslater, Ivan Radic, Matt Lavin, frankieleon, redirockphotodatabase, jeremy_norbury, PavingDirect.com, Justin Beckley, wallygrom, Acabashi, 阿橋花譜 KHQ Flower Guide, wallygrom, Acabashi, talaakso, Robert.Pittman, Jeanne Menjoulet, quattroman76, Björn S..., Rushen!, Ivan Radic, sam_churchill, pdinnen, amandabhslater, La Citta Vita, judy dean, Landscape Design Advisor, charcoal soul, jinxmcc, m.borden, Landscape Design Advisor, Andreas März, gliak00, romana klee, masae-photo, Derek N Winterburn, daryl_mitchell, trekkyandy, Local Food Initiative, D.Eickhoff, *_*, BlossomPDX, goosmurf, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, Doolallyally, Jim Morefield, "Besenbinder", Anika Malone, Elsa Blaine, Local Food Initiative, wallygrom, Isaszas, @tc_goatwriter, M. Martin Vicente, watts photos1, harum.koh, platycryptus, hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou, NRCS Oregon, Darlene Roelofsen, Ivan Radic, MizGingerSnaps, Me in ME, John Brighenti, adamnsinger, jeremy_norbury, gailhampshire, pdbreen, Torquay Palms, wallygrom, MeganEHansen, jlodder, randihausken, Tony Webster, onnola, Earl Ruby, The National Guard, Bods, amandabhslater, Bennilover, corsi photo, PavingDirect.com, Tobyotter, MeganEHansen, andres musta, Darlene Roelofsen, Tony Webster, Darlene Roelofsen, Mike Bonitz, Aaron Volkening, conall.., Bennilover, mikecogh, marthelelièvre, ell brown, cvtperson, M. Martin Vicente, Ruth and Dave, ©aius, Landscape Design Advisor, MICOLO J Thanx, CORGI HomePlan, MizGingerSnaps, 持続可能な地域交通を考える会 (SLTc), PavingDirect.com, Landscape Design Advisor, F. D. Richards, skenmy, alh1, Homeandgardners, Ron Cogswell, treegrow, bonjour_de_y5i, ourmaninjapan, marco_ask, Tatters ✾, sylphxr ms, wallygrom, cobaltfish, PavingDirect.com, Gidzy, BPPrice, wht_wolf9653, likeaduck, 70023venus2009, harum.koh, miguel.discart, alh1, malivsey, abbybatchelder, wallygrom, zaphad1, Ivan Radic, Sarah G..., davidshort, Denna Jones, Mark Wordy, Edna Winti, greenoid, docoverachiever, Mark Wordy, amandabhslater, hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou, t.nz, charlieishere@btinternet.com, jjordan64816, MeganEHansen, Darlene Roelofsen, evergreenhedging, sunoochi, Focx Photography, Ewan-M, Bods, Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel, JKehoe_Photos, bluefootedbooby, hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou, _foam, krossbow, hedera.baltica, Dushan and Miae, Acabashi, amandabhslater, mac_filko, Laurel L. Russwurm, Tim Evanson, Shutterbug Fotos, Mark Wordy, blondinrikard, amandabhslater, mikecogh, amandabhslater, Aaron Volkening, Bobby McKay., shixart1985, pburka, Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel, Heather Smithers, rplessl, cattan2011, Grigory Gusev, PavingDirect.com, YLev, pete. #hwcp, Field Outdoor Spaces, eksrx, edenpictures, Björn S..., Landscape Design Advisor, mattbuck4950, Starr Environmental, James Willamor, subewl, alh1, hedera.baltica, Permaculture Association, PavingDirect.com, Derek Keats, MeganEHansen, fontplaydotcom, La Citta Vita, Mary Gillham Archive Project, Hari K Patibanda, Björn S..., tillwe, anro0002, 35mmMan, crabchick, markb120, Acabashi, Potomac Conservancy, Wendell Smith, Puddin Tain, La Citta Vita, vlod007, onnola, s o d a p o p, wlcutler, Ruth and Dave, itmpa, Landscape Design Advisor, infomatique, stanzebla, steevithak, wallygrom, JuliaC2006, D.Eickhoff, Matt From London, spurekar, Wedontneedfeatherstofly, bixentro, John Freshney, jeans_Photos, Jnzl's Photos, Matt Lavin, Landscape Design Advisor, blumenbiene, Ivan Radic, MizGingerSnaps, Mark Wordy, delirium florens, Klearchos Kapoutsis, alh1, Monkeystyle3000, jmhamann, Tony Armstrong-Sly, chuck b., Joelk75, patrick_standish, Mark Wordy, Rob.Bertholf