removing shrub close to foundation

12 years ago

We moved into a house last summer with a giant shrub at one corner of the house. I do not know what species it is, but have a link to a picture. The picture doesn't capture how ugly it is, but the whole bottom of it is all dead twigs. It looks sort of like a yew, but not, and it is much more brittle.

The base is about 2' from the foundation of the house. The room it is next to is an addition, so it doesn't have quite the same foundation as the rest of the house (there is a tiny crawl space under the addition).

What is the best method to remove it? Cut it to a stump and hire a stump grinder, or have it yanked out. We are having someone come to pull out a bunch of yews in the back yard, so I can see about this being pulled out as well. For some reason I am just nervous that isn't as safe when close to the house.

Thanks for any advice.

http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh528/lmich9/uglybush.jpg

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
ya know.. if you block his face for privacy.. you could at least block the mirror image in the window.. lol ...

cut to about 3 feet ...

sharpen shovel .. and start digging ...

he is young enough.. lol

are you really willing to bet that yanking it.. will not affect the foundation ... only an idiot would suggest that you go for it .. lets see if one chimes in ... lol ..

use the 3 feet .. to wiggle it around.. while digging ...

on the other hand.. nothing should really be planted that close to the house.. i might be tempted to cut it to ground level.. apply roundup to the cambian .. and cover it with mulch.. and be done with it.. thereby not disturbing the soil and foundation at all ...

good luck

ken

as to PBucket ... use the HTML code.. not the IMG code.. and it will show in your post on preview ...
lmich9
Original Author
12 years ago
We'd really like to plant something in its place - if we didn't the plantings in front of the house will look really lopsided. Something small though - and plant it a little further away.

We had a similar bush he took down and just left a stump and it's unsightly, so we plan to have that one ground eventually - he took it down too short to have much leverage to remove it. There's a gaping hole in one part of the landscaping where it was removed, and we can't plant anything else because of the stump.

I'll tell him to remove it himself. He may be young, but it took him a full day to remove a boxwood that was only 2' across. I don't think digging up plants is really our strong suit.
Related Professionals
Ashland Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Clayton Landscape Contractors · Ponte Vedra Beach Landscape Contractors · Yuba City Landscape Contractors · Selma Landscape Contractors · Crestwood Window Contractors · Missouri City Window Contractors · Redwood City Window Contractors · Santa Cruz Window Contractors · Vashon Window Contractors · Watsonville Window Contractors · Aurora Driveway Installation & Maintenance · Charlotte Driveway Installation & Maintenance · Maple Grove Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Owings Mills Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
this is silly.. but have him start by sharpening the shovel...

you will be amazed how much it helps ...

ken