How do I dig up dead Potentella bushes?

Question

My husband seems to think we need a small backhoe to dig up 5 dead bushes-they are right under our front livingroom window, which bows out. We both have tendonitis in our elbow, so digging hurts and I'm not sure we can dig them deep enough. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Less than 2 weeks ago I pulled out 19 privet hedges. I'm 68 so digging was out. Not a whole of money so it was a DIY job.
This is what I did, I soaked the area real good right after 3 days of raining.
I tied a rope on the shrub the other end on my truck and pulled them out.
All of the neighbors were laughing because 2 years ago I cut a 35 foot tree down with a electric chain saw.
Ingenuity and the will to get the job done.
You might give it a try..even if its on a car.

Answer 2

Why don't you hire someone else to dig them up? That would cost a lot less than getting a backhoe. Alternatively, cut them to the ground, cover the area with black plastic and let the roots rot away. To keep the area from being ugly, put potted plants in the area, and/or window boxes under the windows and let vines/flowering annuals such as bacopa hang down.

Answer 3

Sometimes you will be surprised how easy dead bushes come out of the ground... root and all... especially if the plant was originally bought in a container/5 gallon bucket. Depending on how dead they are, how long ago they were planted, and how well they were planted, all you may need to do is grab the plant by the base and give it a good tug, and out the bush comes... roots and all. I have personally done this with many dead shrubs/bushes. Its worth a shot anyways.