How to Safely Remove Laurel Bushes from My Garden?
Asked by gR3EnT3nT1n
Hey everyone! I'm planning to take out 4 large laurel bushes from the bottom of my garden this year. They offer great privacy, but they require a lot of maintenance. Removing them would give me about 6 extra feet of space in my small garden. They're currently about 3 feet lower than my grass line. My plan is to take them out, build a retaining wall, and then put up a fence for privacy. My main concern is, should I try to remove all the roots, or would a couple of layers of membrane be enough after cutting them down to ground level? Also, is it safe to burn the laurel for disposal? Thanks a bunch! ?
Answers
It's actually not safe to burn laurel, especially varieties like cherry and Portugal laurel, which contain hydrogen cyanide. It's better to dispose of it in the waste bin instead!
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Totally feel your pain with laurel! Just cutting them down isn't enough, as they can regrow from any leftover roots. I'd suggest cutting them as close to the ground as possible, and then using a strong weed membrane to cover the area afterward.
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After cutting the stumps down, you should drill some holes into the exposed wood and fill them with root killer. That'll really help prevent regrowth!
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If you use SBK stump killer, you can just apply it directly to the cut stumps without drilling. Once you're sure they're not coming back, you can remove the stumps later if you want.
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BurNedRoots72: Good point! Just be cautious if you're burning it indoors; that's when it can be more dangerous.