# Juniper Shrubs Removal
Juniper grows as a ground cover or ornamental shrub in residential gardens and as a bush or scrub tree in range environments. As a tree in the wild, a juniper can become invasive and fuel wildfires. In residential gardens juniper was a frequently chosen landscape shrub for decades due to its hardiness, low-lying habit, low maintenance requirements and evergreen color. If a blanket of prickly shrubbery is not part of your new landscape plan, there are two possible extermination and removal methods.
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Herbicides
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Range managers control juniper growth with picloram applications. Recommended dosages, when foliary applied throughout the bush's crown during the spring growth season, result in a 97 percent effective mortality rate. Glyphosate-based herbicides, like Round-up, effectively kill residential juniper bushes ,but also cause death to surrounding plants and grass. Glyphosate persists, even after juniper shrub removal, and poses possible damage to newly interred shrubs.
Manual Removal
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The most effective way to remove juniper bushes is also the most time consuming. Dig out the bushes and then use an ax, a pick ax or a hoe to break up the root system. Remove the roots to prevent water sprouts or suckers from forming and regrowing a new shrub. Manual removal is easier in cooler climates. In warm regions root systems grow throughout winter. This year-long growth results in an extensive root system. Horticulturists from North Dakota State University Extension advise against ripping out a shrub by attaching it, via rope or chain, to a moving vehicle. Tearing out a shrub often reveals its extensive root system as it damages sod and lawns.
Diseases and Pests
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Juniper bushes are hardy and disease resistant, but if stressed due to lack of water, extremely low or extremely high temperatures or other poor growing conditions the plant's foliage turns brown. Fungal infections as well as insect infestations -- bagworms, spruce spider mites, scales -- are controlled with fungicides, insecticides or horticultural oil. Heavy, wet soils contribute to root rot development. In such cases it is necessary to remove the plant and amend the soil before replanting or replacing the shrub.
Considerations
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Juniper shrubs thrive in partial shade to full sun, are capable of surviving periods of drought and tolerate windy or exposed sites. Still, junipers display damage. Older junipers display discolored foliage or develop weak spots. When left unpruned, juniper bushes can reach heights up to 25 feet and overgrow their site. In situations like this the shrubs should be removed as severe pruning will not help them.
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