[USER]

I have a row of bushes I want to take out and replace with flowers. I got a quote and it was over $300. I borrowed a chainsaw.

I can do it myself, but it won’t remove the roots. I’m nervous.

I don’t know if I should go for it or not. (They’re slow growing, so I could just trim back any new growth if needed.)

I’m trying to save the money, but I’m doubting my competence.

[Chris]

Put in Facebook Marketplace….free bushes if you remove!! I have dug up several for my yard that way!

Love me some free plants and I don’t mind the workout

[Elizabeth]

once you get the bushes out with the chainsaw, hire someone with a stump grinder.

It should only cost $100 depending on where you live

[Lisa]

Several decades ago I recall my Dad drilling holes into stumps and filling it with vinegar first, then rock salt.

Took a long time, but they rotted away.

These were tree stumps, 1960s.

[Clary]

I saw a video the other day that might be an idea. The guy was taking out an old mailbox that had a post deep in the ground and set in cement.

He fastened a board to the side of it and then use an hydraulic floor jack (borrowed from a neighbor who’s a mechanic?)

You use the force of the jack positioned up under the attached board to basically rip those bushes up and out of the ground.

You could search “using hydraulic jack to dig out fence post” or something like that.

[Kay]

If there cut down to the ground, you can cut an x in the stump part with the chainsaw.

And put salt in them and pour white vinegar in the salt in the x and it will kill the route

[Betty]

You don’t say your age or your physical condition. I’m 70 and I’ve tackled most all yard work. These days I ask myself— do I risk the possibility of getting seriously hurt by falling.

Usually I break down and “try” to hire someone. Lots of great suggestions on here.

If you can do it, want to do it yourself, then go for it!

[Connie]

Don’t cut the bushes. Wrap a chain around them and hitch it to your vehicle.

Pull them out by the roots.

[Kelsey]

You could dig the roots out. Or rent a stump grinder from home depot. Or I’ve used a tow rope attached to my truck and pulled them out but that can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing a can end up with a broken windshield lol.

[Mary]

just try doing one by yourself. I paid a company a lot of $$$ just for pruning / choppping my vigorous roses back down to size for the whole row – abt 13 of them.

how quickly do you want the work done ??

can you haul everything away yourself or will you have to fill the garbage can for numerous weeks? my health and strength isn’t great anymore.

but if you can do one and feel good about it, keep going and see if you can do the whole job!!

[Michele]

Ask owner of chain saw to show you maybe they will help and give him $100 to get his chain saw, maintained oil, new chain and gas.

It’s expensive equipment.

If you don’t dig out roots you will be unable to plant in this area

[Angela]

Can you tie a rope or chain around the base. Then pull out with truck?

Worked for us years ago!

[Sharon]

I would look first at the cost to put in flowers. You say you want to save money so maybe trim the bushes back and add a few flowering shrubs to put in with them.

[Cerise]

Hey. It’s not worth it to pay someone to remove the bushes because they’ll just cut them down without removing the roots.

Don’t be scared. You can do that yourself and save tons.

I’m speaking from experience because I went through the same thing last year.

Save your money.

[Janet]

If bushes aren’t too big they can be hooked to a chain and pulled out by roots using a 4-wheeler if you know someone with one who would help you.

My husband and I pulled out about 20 overgrown shrubs at his home and redid all of his landscaping at his home.

It made a huge difference in how his place looked. And we didn’t spend a fortune on what we planted back.

Doing it ourselves was hard work but saved a bundle!!

[Tommy]

Depending on what type of bushes and how big they are…. you can dig the root ball out with a shovel.

Get the guys together and rip them out over a few beers.

[LySette]

We’ve burnt stumps out before. I can say, the home we bought 3 yrs ago have those large green bushes out front. Cut almost ground level so only small stumps visible.

They’ve never grown back and are now slowly rotting on their own so I let them be.

The bushes were fully alive and green when cut. So, it’s possible to take them out for good by cutting them down.

[Lisa]

Ok stop! Cut the bushes down as low as you can, and then put dirt or soil you bought over the top. Make it a slightly raised bed.

Over time the roots will rot and provide fertilizer for your plants.

Look up hugelkulture for the general concept.

[Annette]

My mother and I took out four nasty juniper bushes one year. It was slow going but a hatchet and a long metal pick (wonder what the correct term is for that thing) for leverage were a great help.

[Callie]

Depending on what kind of bush they are, you may need to dig them out / remove them by hand.

It’ll be a pain in the butt and you may need a saw with a good blade to cut through some of the thicker roots.

Be careful.

[Donna]

Years ago the other half was going to chop off tops of 4 big / large bushes with an ax then dig out roots,,, I suggested dig a little of the dirt from every root ball then he took medium / heavy duty chain wrapped around through roots & bottom part of each bush,, then hooked up other end of chain to my truck hitch / bumper,, took about 1/2 hour ALL DONE bushes & roots gone… if you don’t have truck or SUV maybe you know someone who does & let you borrow it or come pull out bushes for free once you removed some of the dirt…

[Author]

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