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Laurel hedge

clarelardnerclarelardner Posts: 3
in Problem solving
How do I get rid of a laurel hedge. It’s about 1 metre high, looking sickly and I want to replace it with other plants. It was planted about 12 years ago so the trunks are thick and the roots extensive.

Posts

  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Quickest and easiest would be to get a hedge specialist or gardener with knowledge of removing hedges. They would do it and usually take away the unwanted hedging for you. Expensive but I wouldn’t want to tackle it myself .
  • clarelardnerclarelardner Posts: 3
    has anyone experience of using a herbicide?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’ve had lots of experience of herbicides over the years … if you kill the hedge you’ve still got to cut it down  and dig the roots out. It won’t be any easier.

     And plants with glossy leaves (like Laurel) don’t absorb herbicides very well … it’ll be a waste of money in my experience. 

    You’ll be far better off spending your money on someone who can do the job properly for you. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • clarelardnerclarelardner Posts: 3
    There is a product called eco plug which goes into the stump. Anyone got views on that?
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Yes I know about that product. It was used by a neighbour to get rid of a very large and very old honeysuckle bush. It did work but took ages and he still had the job of getting rid of the results. Municipal dumps charge for thar now so , I still go with my first post. Get a man in ! 
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    No way to avoid the cutting down and disposing of it, and digging up the roots. The most the herbicide will do is kill it, ( if you’re lucky, see post from Dovefromabove )
    so the only difference is that you’ll be left with brown leaves. It’s not going to magically dissolve the branches, trunks etc. Cutting it down and digging up the roots will also kill it, and save you the money and mess of chemicals. If you can’t tackle it yourself, best to get someone in.
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