How to Remove Bushes and Kill Stumps

Removing Bushes

• 1

  Cut the branches with a branch pruner into easily manageable sections of about 2 feet each, then remove them from the main bush. Bag the branches for disposal or reduce through a wood chipper. Continue to prune back the bushes until left with the stump of the plant.

• 2

  Pull any roots that extend above the surface of the ground from the soil by hand. Cut any portion that you cannot remove with the pruner.

• 3

  Dig a trench around the stump with a spade to expose the root system down to the base of the stump or at least 6 inches deep. Cut the roots surrounding the stump as you go with the edge of the spade or the pruner if fully exposed.

• 4

  Cut the stump at the 6-inch level using a handsaw. If the trench exposes the base of the stump then place a pry bar beneath the stump and pry it up from the soil. Pull the stump completely free and place in the bags or into the chipper.

• 5

  Fill the trench with the soil you removed.

Killing Stumps

• 6

  Plunge an electric drill with a bit at least 4 inches long around the perimeter of the stump. Create as many holes as possible around the perimeter.

• 7

  Dilute a broad-spectrum glyphosate herbicide with water in a bucket, following the herbicide instructions for woody brush use.

• 8

  Fill the drilled holes with the herbicide, and then wait about six weeks and reapply the diluted mix a second time. Two applications should be sufficient to kill off the stump and prevent further growth.