Removing massive hedge to install turf.

[Phunk]

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

[Phunk]

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

[Phunk]

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

[Phunk]

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)

[Phunk]

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?

[Phunk]

Several months later, this is where I'm at



New plan is to turn it into a gravel driveway with the entrance being between the lamppost and give-away sign.

Have I missed anything from this list:

Remove section of hedge and demolish wall
Remove path (possibly set base aside to use in drive)
Lay down membrane
75-100mm of Type 1 wacked down
Throw gravel on top
Job jobbed

[Phunk]

crofty1984 said:

Phunk said:

New plan is to turn it into a gravel driveway with the entrance being between the lamppost and give-away sign.

Have I missed anything from this list:

Get permission from the council for a dropped kerb and pay them for it.
I hope I'm wrong, but I think you'll struggle to get an entrance there.
You could risk it as a lot of people do, but the proper way is to do as above.

I wouldn’t need a dropped kerb as the kerb is already flush with the road. It’s a relatively quiet road with a car going past around once every 5 minutes.

There’s several similar properties in the area with driveways on junctions.

My fear with asking the council is that they’ll say no then be on their radar.

[Phunk]

Digger said:

Phunk said:

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)

Is there anything preventing a dropped kerb & onsite parking top right of the property marked above instead?

There already is a driveway there but it's extremely tight and on a massive hill, tricky to get an EV charger installed nearby and it segregates our garden in half.

I think I'm going to risk it, I've been around our local neighbourhood and there's plenty of houses who've added driveways in similar/worse circumstances.