How to Pull Out Bushes

Pulling out bushes properly allows you to transplant them more safely and replace them with the planting of your choice.

Bushes can grow quickly and block views or overcrowd other plants. Bush roots are thick and strong, and can't be uprooted easily. You can save the cost of hiring a professional service to pull out the bush by doing it yourself. Using a few basic gardening tools will help you complete this task.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• Manual hedge trimmer
• Wheelbarrow
• Flat shovel
• Curved shovel
• Soil

Instructions

Pulling Out Bushes

1. Slice off the leafy, thinner growths of the bush with a manual hedge trimmer. Cut back the bush until you reach the thicker, woody branches at the base.

2. Cut thicker branches, too large for the trimmer, with pruning shears. Cut off all the branches until only the base, or stump of the bush remains.

3. Dig around the base of the bush with a flat shovel. Dig down to at least a depth of 1 foot around the radius of the bush. If you feel the shovel coming into contact with roots, position yourself farther away from the bush and dig a fresh hole in a wider radius around the bush.

4. Push the head of a standard, curved shovel just under the stump of the bush. Push down on the handle to unearth the stump. If the stump does not begin to lift up immediately, remove the shovel and position it under the stump in another area around the circle. You may need to make several attempts from different sides of the stump to fully pry it free.

5. Pry out any remaining roots in the ground with the shovel. Place the stump, roots and unearthed soil in a wheelbarrow for easy removal. Pour fresh soil over the area, and lay down fresh sod, grass seeds or other plantings.

Tips & Warnings

• If you intend to transplant the bush to another location, take care to keep the root system as intact as possible when digging up the bush. If too many roots are damaged or cut off, the bush may not survive the transplant.

• Always wear safety gloves when working with hand tools to avoid injury.

References

• University of Saskatchewan: Moving and Transplanting Trees and Shrubs; Sharon Faye
• The Organic Gardener: Lifting and Transplanting Shrubs and Trees
• "Taylor's Master Guide to Landscaping"; Rita Buchanan; 2000

Resources

• "New Complete Guide to Landscaping"; Todd A. Steadman; 2002