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Is it hard to rip out a mature yellow ribbon arborvitae?

chaz7979chaz7979 Posts: 3

Hi All.

First of all, is this a yellow ribbon arborvitae?

image

 

image

 

Second, are these shrubs hard to pull out of the ground? These things are about 5' x 4' and have a trunk about 4 inches wide at the base. They are completely overgrown and wrong for the space.

I know you can pull on yews with a backhoe and the roots hold firm. I'm curious what I'm in for with these, what I assume are, overgrown yellow arborvitae.

Thanks in advance!

 

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Hi Chaz, although I don't know that particular conifer (it looks like one only usually found in the US & Canada), I do know that most conifers are relatively shallow rooted, so you probably won't have too much difficulty getting them out.  They will have depleted the soil though, so you'll need to dig-in some good stuff if you are going to plant something else in the area. 

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • chaz7979chaz7979 Posts: 3

    This is good news, there are five of them! I'm hoping my jeep and a chain make quick work of them this spring.

  • WintersongWintersong Posts: 2,436

    Will be easy with wheels,seems a shame though, they look very attractive image

  • chaz7979chaz7979 Posts: 3

    They aren't attractive. What you cant see is that they are very leggy from the front. They were pruned improperly for years.

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