Over the years, the cherry laurel, especially if not pruned regularly, can develop into a powerful shrub that takes up a lot of space. Then it may be necessary to dig up and destroy the trees. The clearing of the laurel cherry is not that easy, but with our tricks and a little muscle power, it can certainly be removed.
This is how you master the act of strength
Removing older bushes is not always without problems, since the root system has spread far and the trunks can reach a considerable diameter. Follow these steps:
- In a first step, cut off all branches until only the main shoots are left.
- Cut off these strong branches with a saw just above the ground.
- Hit the stump from all sides with a massive mallet to loosen it. This will break off the smaller roots as well.
- Expose main roots with a spade and small digging tools.
- Cut off the roots with sharp rose scissors or a hatchet and pull them out of the ground as far as possible.
- Now the remaining root ball can be lifted out of the ground relatively easily. If this is still very tight, the leverage of a pickaxe is helpful.
So that the laurel cherry does not sprout again, it is sufficient to destroy the root head and a large part of the main roots. However, if you want to create space for a new planting, you should then dig up the soil deeply and carefully pick out all the roots that are still in the topsoil.
How is the clippings disposed of?
The amount of clippings and roots produced when removing the laurel cherry is enormous. The cherry laurel also rots badly, making it difficult to dispose of in the compost. It is therefore advisable to hand over green waste to a local collection point or have it collected by a disposal company. Usually there are no or only very low costs for this disposal.
tips and tricks
If you have removed the cherry laurel, there are often still numerous seeds in the soil, from which new laurel cherries will develop in spring. If you do not want to transplant the small shrubs, you should consistently tear out the seedlings.