How to Remove an Evergreen Bush

Juniper is one type of evergreen shrub.

Evergreen shrubs provide year-round interest in the garden or landscape. However, there are times when you may need to remove an evergreen shrub, such as when it starts to die or outgrows the planting space, or if you need to install a patio or walkway. In these cases, the best approach is to kill the shrub, which weakens the root system. Once the evergreen shrub is dead, you can complete the removal process by digging up the roots.

Things You'll Need

• Garden sprayer
• Herbicide containing triclopyr or glyphosate
• Water (optional)
• Plastic drop cloths
• Hedge trimmers or saw
• Shovel
• Work gloves
• Stump grinder (optional)

Instructions

1. Open a garden sprayer and fill it with an herbicide that contains either triclopyr or glyphosate as the main ingredient. Use the amount specified on the bottle and add tap water if instructed to do so.

2. Open plastic drop cloths and lay them on the ground under the evergreen bush to protect the surrounding grass and any desirable plants. If you do not care about killing the surrounding vegetation, you can skip this step.

3. Spray the evergreen bush with the herbicide mixture until it drips off the leaves or needles. Concentrate the mixture on the actual bush and not on the ground.

4. Wait until the bush turns brown or yellow, which indicates that it is dead. If the bush does not die in one week, apply a second dose of the herbicide to it.

5. Cut off the top dead section of the bush using electric hedge trimmers or a saw. Leave approximately 4 to 5 inches of the main stem to assist you in pulling the roots out of the soil.

6. Insert a shovel in the soil 1 foot to 2 feet away from the base of the evergreen shrub. Lean back on the shovel to loosen the soil. Repeat the process all the way around the base of the bush in a circular pattern.

7. Insert the shovel as far in the loosened soil as possible and under the base of the bush. Push the handle all the way to the ground to loosen any remaining roots.

8. Grasp the top of the stem that is still above the soil and pull it out of the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also rent small stump grinders at home improvement stores and grind up the remaining bush stump. If you do this, remove the chopped pieces with a shovel to prevent them from regrowing.

• Wearing work gloves helps you get a better grip when pulling the stump out of the ground.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension: Removing Trees and Shrubs
• Washington State University: Chemical Control for Woody Plants, Stumps and Trees