I'm guessing there will be an estensive root system making it difficult to replant without removing the roots. Also, this would be an excellent time to amend your soil giving your new shrubs a rich growing environment,

dig them out ...

remove everything.. but a bare 4 foot trunk .... you will need that for leverage ...

and then start digging about 3 foot out ..... it wont be easy ... the undisturbed soil will probably be very hard/compacted

and then just start cutting roots ... it wont be easy ..a sawzall helps.. and use the trunk to rock it back and forth to find roots as you continue to remove soil ... ... there will be one maddening large one.. going straight down ...

yes.. its very hard labor... but cheaper than paying for it ...

the lesson you should learn here is twofold ..

one those cute little babes get very big over the decades ... so on replanting.. plan accordingly ...

and second.. foundation planting are planted to hide the foundation.. NOT ON THE FOUNDATION ...

so when you go to replant.. think about a 6 foot wide bed .. and plant about 3 to 4 feet out.. leaving at least a 2 foot walkway behind for house maintenance .. window washing.. xmas lights.. painting.. washing siding.. etc ...

good luck

ken

ps: yes you could cut them to the ground.. and apply roundup.. but you will still have to do the digging.. once you try to replant there ... so may as well do it right in the first place ...

Alternatively you could cut down the yews and then make sure they are kept trimmed to a height you like and plant something else in front. Digging out them out is the only way to get rid of them completely. Yew is well known for its ability to sprout from stumps. That's why it makes such good hedges and topiary which can withstand several hundred years of trimming.

hey flora.. this aint GBritian.. lol ...

here is what i am seeing in my minds eye ...

late 50's early 60's suburban ranch ..

builder buys and plant one gallon plants.. one foot from the foundation ..

fast forward 40 or 50 years.. and this things is working its way to the gutters on the second floor..

been there ... lived that.. dug them out.. lol

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: something like this.. but i didnt live in vine land .. lol ..

Yeah, these are 36 yrs old. Luckily, they are planted about four ft from the house. Digging them out would fall pretty on my priority list of projects this year. So, I think I'll just trim a good chunk of them down and see what happens. Maybe do another significant trim down in fall too. Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, these are 36 yrs old. Luckily, they are planted about four ft from the house.

===>> yeah.. except in 36 years.. they are a 10 foot wide plant.. lol ... browning and dieing on the house side.. nearly bare.. and reaching 6 feet into the lawn.. or what is left of the lawn under them ....

AM I RIGHT.. lol ...

good luck

short of heavy equipment.. its just exercise ... you can do it ..

ken

btw.. i had a friend pull the bumper off his rusty old truck... trying to yank something like this out..

try to avoid that.. lol

ken

I had a front foundation yew that was about 4-6 years old (from the previous owners) transplanted to the rear. In another 4 to 6 years, I removed it from that location. It was difficult, but do-able, and surprisingly satisfying. And Ken's description of the process is dead-on.

However,if its been there 36 years, the roots must be extensive. I would shoot for a compromise. I would dig out a lot of it, and use roundup or brush killer on the cut ends remaining.

Been there, done that. 2 large cedar and 2 large yews. I feel as I belong in this thread.
If you do it also get a good digging and long pry bar. Whatever it costs it will be with it. If you have a come along and some chokers all the better. Get some good blades for your sawzall too.
Well, now you have something to do this week. Have fun.