Privet hedge problem

Hi, I've got about 15yds of 6ft hedge in my garden that I want to remove. I'm going to cut it all down to about 1 inch above the ground. I'd like to know what I should do after that to kill the roots without having to dig them all up. Also what is the best tool to cut it down with? Any advice would be welcome.
thanks

 

Hi sawdox and welcome.
It really depends on what you want to do with the space. If you want to replant, you will need to completely remove the roots and rejuvinate the soil.
If you want to grass the space over, I would spray with glyphosate and kill the hedge before cutting it, then once it is dead chop all the stems down to a few inches below soil level and re-seed.

 

A fence will be going up along the same border. The stems are quite thick because the hedge is quite old. Not sure I'll be able to dig the roots out!

 

You will have the same problem when you come to dig the post holes, there isn`t a way to speed up the rotting of the roots, so if you want to avoid a heck of a lot of manual labour it`s a mini digger.

 

I assume you need to do this before the spring.

I would, after cutting down, dig out with a mattock. If not yourself, then get someone in.

Its too late/early for glyphosate as this is taken up through the leaves.

 

thanks for the replies. Looks like I'd better get my thinking cap on! Not sure which way to go now!:lollol:

 

Why do you want rid of the hedge? Because if it is for extra room then you can shear it right back to the main trunk.

 

Id do it using a tirfor, chain and ground anchor farr more pulling power than a small minidigger and no ground chewed up by the tracks. Whatever you do leave the hedge intact to give you more leveradge on the roots regardless of what you use to rip it out with.

 

It has become too much to keep in order each summer, hence the need for a fence!

 

They`re a pain these gardens at times that`s a fact.

 

Q1 - Are you or a contractor erecting the fence.

Q2 - have you a deadline for this

Q3 - Are you using metposts or concreting in the posts

and for ProGard - cooo. I haven't used a Trifor wench in years. Can be very effective as long as you can get a good anchorage

 

There`s a pruning method that might be of some use to you, I will have agoogle later on and see if I can get a link for it.

 

Claire, I thing what your thinking of is the renovation prune were one side is cut right hard back by anything up to several feet then the otherside done the following year plus regular feeding. It works but looks awfull for 18 months.