How To Remove An Entire Shrub Without Digging It Out

When you look at an old shrub near your house that has seen better days, you might be ready to remove it. However, instead of paying around $400 for professional shrub removal, you may want to save money with a DIY approach. One of the most recommended options is using a shovel to dig by hand around the root ball, loosening it before eventually removing the plant. However, this can take up to five hours of demanding physical labor.

Although you could remove the shrub the recommended way, maybe causing some back pain while deploying the shovel, there's a no-dig method of removing an established shrub that you may want to consider instead — attaching a tow rope to the base of the shrub and yanking it out of the ground with a large vehicle. Sure, making an error using this method could have you trending on YouTube for all the wrong reasons, but it can be done safely with proper preparation and attention to safety precautions. If you've never tackled anything like this before, it's better to hire a professional to protect your property and health.

Full disclosure: I have actually used this method for a few old shrubs near my first house. I didn't experience any major problems that could've led to damage, but this can be a tricky process if you aren't careful. This method of shrub removal offers a potential for injuries or damage to the house or vehicle — and social media infamy. 

It may sound simple to yank a shrub out with a vehicle, and it can be manageable if the shrub has shallow roots or is already dead, and you have the right skills. However (and I can't emphasize this enough), a lot can go wrong, too. You might not even be able to envision every possible way this job could go wrong. The tension on a tow strap pulled by a heavy vehicle is often higher than expected. If you're even a little worried about the potential consequences, it's worth the peace of mind to just hire a pro and avoid a landscaping mistake that could harm your home's value through damage.

If the shrub is close to your house or parked vehicles, a snapped tow strap could potentially shatter house or car windows, dent vehicle panels, or even puncture siding. Because you made an avoidable mistake, your insurance company may give you a hassle before paying for the damage (minus your deductible). A pro will have insurance coverage to protect you financially against any damage (without you seeing a deductible). Paying a pro to do the work is almost certainly cheaper than paying a four-figure deductible.

I always recommend using a long tow strap or rope to reduce the risk of damage from something flying loose and hitting the vehicle's back window. These precautions can help you avoid becoming YouTube famous with a headline that prominently contains the word "fail."

If you believe you have the skill and experience needed to use this technique, this is how I would recommend doing it. Start by soaking the ground around the shrub several hours before you plan to start working. Adding plenty of water makes the roots softer and reduces problems with compacted, dry soil by creating friction against the roots that tries to force them to stay in place.

You don't have to dig around the roots; you can use a reciprocating saw to cut any exposed roots around the perimeter of the shrub. Call 811 before cutting into the ground to have underground utilities marked and avoid inadvertently cutting through underground wires. Severing these larger roots that are spreading horizontally will make it easier to pop the shrub out of the ground. I've also used a lopper to sever exposed roots.

Before starting the final step, make sure all people and pets are as far away as possible to avoid injuries. Secure a sturdy tow strap or heavy-duty rope around the base of the shrub. Some people choose a metal tow chain, but I would suggest limiting metal whenever possible for this task because of the possibility of damage it will cause if it breaks loose under tension. Never attach the strap to the bumper, as it will likely crack or come loose under pressure, leading to an expensive repair. Use a towing hitch or the tow eye embedded in the bumper of some cars. Pull forward slowly in low gear, always watching for obstacles, and continue forward until the shrub gives way.