Removing privet

Not the tiny privet, otherwise I'd have put this elsewhere!

I've just started taking out an enormous hedge, which I'm told is privet - it's about 20ft tall, 60ft long (made up of maybe 20 multi-trunked trees) and totally out of control (I blame the previous occupants!).

Is there anything I should know? Are the roots very difficult to remove, is there anything that would help stop it regrowing?

Incidentally once it's gone I'll be planting a veggie border, so I don't want to use anything that might make anything I manage to grow unsafe to eat.

 

Hi Nikita and welcome to GC. I reckon you could try a weedkiller called S B K. But I do wish you luck. I actually burned down a privet hedge some years ago so we could get a delivery of (dare I say it) gravel in. It took about 4 years, but it came back. Those babies are tough.

 

Hi Nikita and welcome, I would be inclined to cut it down to ground level and then hire a little Bobcat type machine to get the roots out, with plants that size it would be virtually impossible to dig them out by hand. David.

 

If you know somebody with a landy and chains, that would shift them - I've seen it done, and it's very effective - and quick! :D