Removing massive hedge to install turf.

Removing massive hedge to install turf.

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Discussion

Phunk

Original Poster:

1,972 posts

170 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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We’ve recently moved into a new place which has a good sized garden but a lot is taken up by hedges and trees.

I’m currently hacking backing this jungle.





What’s the best way for me to remove the huge amount of roots that are left over in preparation to turf?

I was thinking of hiring a guy with a mini digger to spend the day just pulling it all out?

Or can I get away with root killer, exposing as much as possible to the winter frost and then just pull it out myself in the new year?


Edited by Phunk on Sunday 6th September 16:39

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

130 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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I'd go over it with a mattock, they are brilliant at digging up the ground, they are fit and they make light work of it. I wouldn't expect any of the deeper roots to cause a problem, they will probably just rot down over time.



ColinM50

2,630 posts

174 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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If you can get a small mini digger in, it'll save you hours of backbreaking work, well worth the expense

Oh, and do you have planning permission for the yellow and red house? Looks like it needs better foundationslaughbiglaughbounce

trickywoo

11,705 posts

229 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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A mattock is a good tool but for that area you would need friendly soil and to be pretty fit for it not to be seriously hard work.

I’ll split wood with a 6lb maul for a couple of hours at a time but 20 minutes with a mattock has me looking for a chair.

Phunk

Original Poster:

1,972 posts

170 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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Cheers all, I’ve ordered a mattock. If that doesn’t work I’ll get a guy with a mini digger!

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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Wear some stout shoes and count your toes after each session.

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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A mini digger will have that lot out in ten minutes

Buffalo

5,435 posts

253 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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I'm in the process of removing several similar sized hedges. Digger is the way forward (reasonably priced and easy to use too)

Slackline

411 posts

133 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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Yep, easy with a digger. Forget the operator, it's cheaper and more fun to drive it yourself!

Andeh1

7,107 posts

205 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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Whatever you do, don't lay turf until the spring! That much spoil disturbance & serious roots will take a long time to settle down unless you you have a whacker plate or big roller.

Laying lawn too soon will just mean it ends up settling down & sinking at different rates and will look a mess! It's then 5x harder to smooth out & rectify.

Phunk

Original Poster:

1,972 posts

170 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
quotequote all
Slackline said:
Yep, easy with a digger. Forget the operator, it's cheaper and more fun to drive it yourself!
Bizarrely the cheapest I’ve found to rent on its own is £250 a day, but I’ve found a local guy with one that’s £175 a day.

Edited by Phunk on Monday 7th September 09:50

hidetheelephants

23,763 posts

192 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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Rhododendrons are bds, make sure you get all of it otherwise it'll be back. Also burn or skip the bits, do not chip/shred it or the fker will seed.

Chrisgr31

13,440 posts

254 months

Monday 7th September 2020
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hidetheelephants said:
Rhododendrons are bds, make sure you get all of it otherwise it'll be back. Also burn or skip the bits, do not chip/shred it or the fker will seed.
This.

Are you planning on putting up a fence or what in replacement for it?looks like it edges on the road so that will bring a host of other questions!

Rhododendrons don’t make good hedges though!

Phunk

Original Poster:

1,972 posts

170 months

Monday 7th September 2020
quotequote all
Chrisgr31 said:
hidetheelephants said:
Rhododendrons are bds, make sure you get all of it otherwise it'll be back. Also burn or skip the bits, do not chip/shred it or the fker will seed.
This.

Are you planning on putting up a fence or what in replacement for it?looks like it edges on the road so that will bring a host of other questions!

Rhododendrons don’t make good hedges though!
Ah, that'll be the Rhododendrons that I've already shredded and fired in borders around the place - bugger!

There's a hedge (which isn't a Rhododendron) surrounding the property, so we'll keep that along with a couple of larger trees.

This is a overhead view of the property (my bit in red)


LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

130 months

Monday 7th September 2020
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I've never had problems with surviving roots from rhododendrons I've removed. Never had any grow back.

Phunk

Original Poster:

1,972 posts

170 months

Monday 7th September 2020
quotequote all
Picked up the mattock and removed a couple of roots, it's some workout but it's getting through the roots no bother.

Cheers for the recommendations, plan now is to continue removing everything and dig it all over. Would spring be the earliest that I can seed grass?

dhutch

14,198 posts

196 months

Monday 7th September 2020
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Depending on type, most hedges will take being cut back hard well, so even if they are well over grown that is the first port of call there.

We took two 15ft wide 20ft tall hedges back to almost sticks, including plenty cut down to a low level to promote growth from the base, and now 18month later have cracking 2ft wide 5ft tall laurel and privet hedge.



When removing trees/hedge cut it back to sticks left long, use a sharp digging spade* and or mattock to cut all around the root bowl, and then use the remaining trunk to lever it out. If you cut it off flush, massive pita to get out!

As said, it will settle with time and a whacker plate will likely make it worse not better, however you can heel the top few inches down, leave it just a week or two to settle a bit, and turf seed it now (a good time of year) you will just have to do a bit of "top dressing" to fill any settlement as it comes.

Diggers are also good fun.


Daniel

Chrisgr31

13,440 posts

254 months

Monday 7th September 2020
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The hedge will probably need some tender loving care. As long as it’s not made of conifers then it won’t object to being cut back. In fact will probably quite like it. You might need to infill it in places, or even do some hedgelaying!

The Council did hedgelaying on a hedge in a local park and it’s amazing what a difference it has made and how the gaps have filled up.

basherX

2,464 posts

160 months

Monday 7th September 2020
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Phunk said:
Slackline said:
Yep, easy with a digger. Forget the operator, it's cheaper and more fun to drive it yourself!
Bizarrely the cheapest I’ve found to rent on its own is £250 a day, but I’ve found a local guy with one that’s £175 a day.

Edited by Phunk on Monday 7th September 09:50
Using man-maths (trust me, I'm an accountant) that means you get to drive a digger for only £75. You can't buy that sort of fun more cheaply...

dhutch

14,198 posts

196 months

Monday 7th September 2020
quotequote all
basherX said:
Using man-maths (trust me, I'm an accountant) that means you get to drive a digger for only £75. You can't buy that sort of fun more cheaply...
biglaugh