The Easy Way to Remove Juniper Bushes

Prune the juniper severely, using heavy pruning or lopping shears. Wear thick garden gloves that go well over your wrists to protect your hands from cuts and scratches and hack away until all you have left is the thick central stem. The juniper does not respond well to heavy pruning; if you are lucky, the shrub will die by the next growing season. You can then disguise the stem with bushy perennials or vining annuals. If the juniper still thrives after pruning, move on to the next step.

Soak the ground with water around the remains of the juniper. Set the garden hose on the ground and let it the water run for at least a half-hour, until the soil around the juniper's root system is saturated. This loosens the soil and makes the bush easier to uproot.

Back the pickup truck to the juniper. Make sure the truck's tires are on pavement or dry ground if at all possible to minimize the damage the tires can do to the surrounding turf. Digging out a juniper by hand is hard work. Use the truck's power to pull out the bush to save your back.

Wrap the chain around the juniper several times, wrapping the chain around itself.

Secure the chain to the pickup truck hitch or bumper.

Accelerate the truck slowly until the chain is taut. Continue accelerating slowly until the juniper starts to pull out of the ground. Drive slowly away until the juniper is completely out of the ground.

Refill the hole left by the juniper with garden soil. If you plant a new ornamental shrub or tree in the same area, you might find root sections left from the juniper as you dig. They should be easy to remove with an ordinary garden trowel or shovel.