Hi there,
I don't know if its an option based on your description of the tree form, or if you can access area this way but I was told that for large shrubs to try to put a chain or rope around the base and attach it to a tow hitch on a truck or jeep and slowing pull it out that way.

Some more opinions... good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Digging up a shrub

Thanks southerngal - for both of your posts. I looked through the link that you provided. I think my best option right now is to keep digging - lol - and I'll eventually get it out.

Thanks again.

I just recently removed a lilac that was too big for it's spot, and has never bloomed in 5 years.

I had the stump ground and still spent an hour or more each day for the next 3 days digging up stray roots. It' not easy, especially if you have clay or hardpacked soil. I thought the handle on my garden fork was going to break a couple of times. I also had to use a sharp lawn edger to cut some large roots about a foot down. I hope mine doesn't come back next year somehow. I've already planted three much smaller shrubs.

The amount of manual labour after grinding the stump was enough. I can't imagine trying to remove the whole thing on my own. Do yourself a favour and get the stump ground and maybe even hire an able bodied teenager to dig for you =:)

Hi, nutsaboutflowers... you may think *I'm* nuts, but I dug it up. ; )

I didn't think I'd ever be able to do it, but I just keep shovelling out the soil underneath the rootball, and cutting off the surrounding roots as I went. It helped that the soil wasn't dry, and eventually, I got it up. I was surprised that it didn't really have too many large roots underneath, except for just a couple which I had to use a small saw on; and the rest I just used a lopper. Luckily, I don't have hard clay and the soil was 'nice'. I couldn't lift the heavy rootball, though, so I had some help to roll it away.

Like you, I'm worried about any roots that were left behind sprouting. Oh, and mine was in too much shade, too, and didn't flower. : )