How to Remove a Juniper Bush
Tip
Remove juniper bushes in the spring or fall when the ground has not frozen.
Warning
Remove the entire root system of the plant. Root systems left in the ground can turn into a hospitable environment for pests or diseases or impede the growth of grass or other plants in the area.
Juniper bushes are popular landscaping plants for creating borders or adding focal points. While a juniper plant can add an attractive quality to the yard, sometimes one must be removed for cosmetic or safety reasons. Juniper bushes that have succumbed to diseases should be removed or their fungal infections can wind up infecting other plants in the yard.
Cut off all branches of the juniper bush. Make your cuts next to the trunk. Chop the branches into manageable pieces, so that you can carry them away. Avoid placing the pieces of the juniper in your compost if you suspect that it died or has a fungal disease.
Water the ground around your juniper bush. Dig a ditch 2 feet around the stump. The taller the bush, the farther away you want to dig your ditch. If you are digging out a stump from a juniper bush 6 feet tall, make your ditch 3 feet away from the base.
Pour more water on the area to expose the root system. With your spade, remove the dirt covering the roots. Press a landscape bar underneath the bush and press up to lift the bush from underneath.
Prune any roots with your pruning saw that are keeping the bush from being removed. Lift the bush up and place it on its side. Chop the roots into pieces and remove.
Sift through the dirt with your hands to remove any leftover roots. Water the area to expose any roots hidden in the soil. Pack soil back into the hole.
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