Coniferous hedges do their job for a long time. But at some point these plants will also grow old. Pruning mistakes and incorrect fertilization can also destroy their good appearance. Then their owner wants to get rid of them as soon as possible. But how are they removed with as little sweat as possible?

Removing the roots of coniferous hedges is hard work

The ideal time for the action

There is no need to consider the conifers in terms of time, the hedge could theoretically be taken out of the ground all year round. But it's not that simple.

To protect native bird species, extensive cutting and removal of hedges is prohibited between March 1st and September 30th. Shrubs are popular breeding grounds. It may well be that there are different special regulations in your federal state for the removal of hedges. Inquire at the responsible office before you reach for the saw, otherwise a hefty fine could follow.

Also pay attention to the weather. If the ground is frozen, digging up the roots is difficult. However, you can also tackle the above-ground part of the work when it is below zero if there is no other alternative in terms of time.

Notice:
Do you want to remove the coniferous hedge because it has brown spots? That doesn't have to be mandatory! Do some research on possible causes and solutions!

Remove branches and cut trunk

In a private garden, a large conifer cannot be taken out of the ground as a whole. This requires heavy equipment. If you work your way up bit by bit, you'll reach your goal. It starts with removing the branches close to the trunk.

  • work at the bottom
  • until part of the trunk is "naked" and easily accessible
  • Cut through the stem at about 80 cm from the ground

Of course, every single conifer in the hedge has to be treated in this way. Put the removed tree parts aside so that you don't get in the way of further work steps.

expose roots

  1. Use a spade to expose as much of the roots as possible.
  2. You can easily cut through smaller roots with a spade and pull them out of the ground.
  3. Move the trunk back and forth to take advantage of the leverage. This loosens the root ball.
  4. Then pull out the trunk and roots. If you can't do this with your bare hands, you can tie a rope around the trunk and pull the rest out with a tractor or other vehicle.

tips

If you fill up the resulting holes with compost, the soil gets the nutrients it needs for subsequent planting.

dispose of hedge

Even if the hedge was completely healthy, it does not belong in the compost because a large proportion of coniferous wood makes the compost very acidic. However, only a few plants tolerate this. Nothing speaks against small amounts of it. The acid effect can be neutralized by adding lime.

Category:

Trees