Over the years, especially if not pruned regularly, the cherry laurel can develop into a mighty shrub that takes up a lot of space. It may then become necessary to dig up the trees and destroy them. Clearing the laurel cherry is not that easy, but with our tricks and a little muscle power it will definitely be possible to remove it.
How do I remove an old cherry laurel?
To remove an old cherry laurel, first cut off all the branches and saw off the main shoots above the ground. Loosen the stump and root ball, separate roots and lift them out of the ground. Dispose of the clippings properly and remove any remaining roots in the ground.
How to master the feat of strength
Removing older bushes is not always unproblematic, as the roots have spread widely and the trunks can reach a considerable diameter. Follow these steps:
- In a first step, cut off all branches until only the main shoots remain.
- Cut off these strong branches with a saw just above the ground.
- Hit the stump from all sides with a massive hammer to loosen it. This also causes the smaller roots to break off.
- Exposure main roots with a spade and small digging tools.
- Separate the roots with sharp rose scissors or a hatchet and pull them out of the soil as far as possible.
- Now the remaining root ball can be lifted out of the ground relatively easily. If it is still very tight, the leverage of a pickaxe is helpful.
To prevent the laurel cherry from sprouting again, it is enough to destroy the root head and a large part of the main roots. However, if you want to make room for a new plant, you should then dig the soil deeply and carefully select all the roots that are still in the topsoil.
How are the clippings disposed of?
The amount of cuttings and roots that occur when removing the laurel cherry is enormous. The cherry laurel also rots poorly, making it difficult to dispose of in the compost. It is therefore advisable to hand over green waste to a local collection point or have it picked up by a waste disposal company. There are usually no or very low costs for this disposal.
Tips & Tricks
Once you have removed the cherry laurel, there are often still numerous seeds in the soil from which new laurel cherries will develop in spring. If you don't want to transplant the small bushes, you should consistently pull out the seedlings.