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How to remove HUGE shrub

Sam 6Sam 6 Posts: 17
in Problem solving

Hi all,

I have started to clear my garden, I spend 4 hours removing a 15m concrete path on Saturday. This weekend’s task is to remove a massive shrub in the centre of the garden.

It's about 10ft tall with a very large circumference. This may sound like a stupid question but what is the best way to remove it? I have tried sheers on it, in order to get to the centre though the outer branches are too think. It's really thorny as well which is proving a problem.

Is there a tool (other than a hedge trimmer) that may make light work of this task? I wasn't sure whether I would damage the hedge trimmer?

I have included a photo, It doesn't show all of it, but gives you an idea of what I'm up against.

image

 Please help!

Sam

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    You need some long handled loppers or a pruning saw on a long handle to remove some of the thicker branches and reduce the bulk.  Than you just dig out what's left.  The loppers will probably come in handy again for severing roots.

    Wolf do both loppers and the saw which is curved with sharp, opposing teeth and also a variety of lengths of handles and many other useful heads such as a rake, hoes, cultivators and so on so you can build up your tool set as and when you need someting and can afford it.  Good garden centres and DIY stores stock the range.

    http://www.wolfgarten-tools.co.uk/multi-change-tools/multi-change-tools 

    http://www.wolfgarten-tools.co.uk/cutting/loppers

    I don't work for Wolf - just a happy customer.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,023

    We did what obelixx said to start with, then we used the garden tractor mower to pull it out. Make sure you leave some trunk behind to pull on, whether manually or with a machine.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    A good dose of cussedness also comes in handy!

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,545

    And old secateurs if it's got lots of thin roots and a trowel for grubbing in between and a kneeling mat for comfort!

    I had to do a whole bank of ancient shrubs that got honey fungus and it's a good feeling when you succeed!

  • Lupin 1Lupin 1 Posts: 8,916

    I'd say reduce as much as you can and attack the base with an axe and then dig it out with a grafting spade, well that is the way my OH removes conifers, pampas grass and stuff that he sees as a challenge, he even dug out sycamore tree stumps image Think he enjoys it, he is available for hire image Joking, I have a list ready for him in the spring.

     

    OH not allowed to have a chainsaw I prefer him with limbs in tact.  

     

  • Sam 6Sam 6 Posts: 17

    Thanks for the helpful responses.  I have looked online and could not find a hi-lift jack for hire.

    So I have decided to use the following -

    - A cheap electric chainsaw as it's about half the price to buy it than hire it from HSS.

    - Axe

    - Long handled loppers

    - Secateurs, trowel and kneeling mat

     

    I can use the chainsaw on these two trees as well, and if i really struggle cutting the roots with the axe then I will hire a grinder.

    image

     Thanks

    Sam

     

     

     

  • Sam 6Sam 6 Posts: 17

    Hi all,

    Just thought I'd give you an update after working in the garden this weekend.

    It took 10 hours and 9 trips to the dump but it's starting to look a lot better.  The chainsaw worked a treat.

    Next time I'm going to try and remove the four tree roots and shrub roots.

    image

     

     

    image

     

    image

     Sam

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