removing hedge?

shopaholic2006

hello, i am about to move into my first ground floor flat with a garden, can't wait :j
It is not a large garden so i need to maximise space. At the moment there are hedges along one side against the fence, i would like to get rid of these so i can plant veg in the border. I know this is prob not going to be as easy as i'd like, but is there any advice about the removal please, also how easy is it going to be to get out the roots so it is suitable for planting? Not sure how far out the roots are spread.
I fear decorating the flat may come second to the garden lol.
Many thanks Katie

mattk35

Hi Katie,
Depends on the type of hedge and how big? If its privet it'll be pretty easy to get rid of as the roots tend to stay fairly shallow, but privet does enjoy a good cut back and then you could grow it back to the size that suits you best.
If it's conifer it's a whole new ball game. They suck the life out the soil around them and then move out further doing the same.:mad:
If you do want to get the roots out then don't cut the bush of to ground level. If you leave a couple of foot up then you have something to leaver it out with.;)

robnye

have fun- i have spent the last 2 summers removing a dozen leylandii.......
then had an excellent first year growing veggies....

Davesnave

mattk35 wrote: »

Hi Katie,
If its privet it'll be pretty easy to get rid of as the roots tend to stay fairly shallow

How many well-established privet hedges have you removed? True, a privet hedge is more do-able than, say, a leylandii 15 feet high, but that's a tree.
It will still require a good deal of effort to remove a large privet-type hedge and [text removed by MSE Forum Team] you may find it well-nigh impossible.

Any hedge robs the soil of nutrients and moisture, but you can ameliorate some of the effects of this by burying slabs on edge at the root margin. As matt says, a pruned-down hedge will also take a lot less from the soil than one 2m high. Another thing to consider with hedges behind any kind of border, is that you will still need access to cut them a couple of times a year.

If the idea of inserting slabs vertically into the soil seems a tad 'heavy' then you definitely don't want to try digging it out. However, you may, of course, know someone brawny!

Jnelhams

Before you go pulling out hedges, you should check that they are not mentioned on the terms of the lease or freehold as a restrictive covenant, in some places they are part of the overall landscaping.

If you are allowed to remove a hedge, think about the wind direction as you might find you create more problems with a colder windy garden, where as present the hedge is protecting you from frost as well as giving home to wildlife.

If none of these are a problem and you have access, tie a chain to the base and use a car with a tow bar to pull them up. Remember to use lots of manure to improve the soil.

JWF

i found an electric saw useful for taking out a few very well established privets - but I still needed to do loads of digging and chopping with an axe too

lisaann72red

we took out a 40ft hedge. Prepare for some really hard labour. We had a beech tree in the middle of our hedge. We got someone to cut it down to the stump. Then we dug the roots out we also had Cherry trees and the roots are like trunk size. Also prepare to get lots of scratches. You need an axe and a pick axe. took a about three weeks to remove it all.
Lisa

Davesnave

A five or six foot wrecking bar will go between roots where it's hard to get a pick; it gives good leverage too.

shopaholic2006

thanks for all your advice. I went back there today to evaluate the situation, however when i got there i noticed a few of the trunks were large and looked pretty established. I'm probably going to start in next 2/3 weeks. I'm going to try and remove one, depending on how i get on (or not), i will just cut them down to ground level and build a small raised bed on top, adding compost and manure will also help the poor soil currently there. I will let you know how i get on :T