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golden privet root system?

FireFire Posts: 19,096
edited March 2021 in Problem solving
I am pondering taking out of a golden privet high shrub. The woody structure is up to about 7ft, over 15 years old, similar to that picture. It's nice to have evergreen structure but the yellow doesn't fit. I'm hoping to use the space immediately (and taking it out now for that reason). So I'm wondering how much of a battle it will be to get the roots out. Will they likely go wide or deep? Might the roots be the width of my finger, my wrist or my arm?

I don't really want to start the project only to find that it's going to be a much bigger job re root removal/dig out (with a fork and a spade) and that we can't use the space next week.

I battled to take an acer that was about two foot tall. We went down a metre and the roots were huge, the size of my arm, not tapering. I thought it would be a straight forward job, lol. I had hoped to move the acer but there was not a chance. Huge roots went down to Australia. 



Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited March 2021
    Privet isn't known for having particularly deep roots, so you should be OK.
    Edit: I had a 7m overgrown (3m+ high) privet hedge taken out in a morning by two lads and most of the roots were in the top 15-20cm, with a few going down to 45cm.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    @BobTheGardener - ooo, thanks Bob.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Isn't it nice when you get just the answer you were hoping for😀
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I think that's a bit premature. First I have to try and get the privet out and then bemoan the fact that I can't and should have left it in. :D I will post follow up if it goes ahead.
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