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Many tools are effective in helping you remove hedges. While heavy machinery is likely the best option for making quick work of hedge removal, your trusty hand spade shovel is probably the next best. Use a spade shovel to dig around the hedge and break roots as you go with the tool. Your spade is also useful for getting deep underneath the root ball, so you can insert a pry bar to help lift the plant.

The most common alternative is burning the stump first, then dealing with the cinders and ashes. As you can imagine, this option creates fire hazards, especially since roots can burn underground, hidden, for long afterward. That’s why many states and cities have outlawed the use of stump burning entirely. We do not recommend this option as a viable alternative unless you get a permit from the local fire department and practice all safe burning procedures.

Others prefer a more long-term DIY approach of degrading the stump with home mixtures like Epsom salt and vinegar injected directly into it. This may help the stump decay faster, allowing homeowners to dig it out themselves, but it’s still a lengthy process. It usually takes months for a stump to start falling apart with such treatments, and in the meantime, it can be vulnerable to rot, insects, and other problems.

To remove a shrub, start by cutting back the shrub using pruning shears, loppers, or a chainsaw. Next, dig around the base of the shrub with a pointed shovel to expose its root system. Then, use a shovel or a mattock to loosen the roots, making it easier to pull or lift the shrub from the ground. For larger shrubs or stubborn root systems, attaching a chain or strap to the base and using a vehicle to pull it out can be effective. Ensure proper disposal of the shrub and its debris following local waste disposal guidelines.

It’s possible to over-mulch leaves. If the leaf mulch is thick enough that it’s blocking and smothering the grass, that’s a problem. Ideally, you should still be able to see the grass when you’re done mulching to ensure its ability to continue growing. The solution is to make another pass at the top layer of leaf mulch to collect some of the top layer.