Arborvitaes certainly serve their purpose, but when they’re installed with no consideration for how big they can get, they sometimes have to go. When a homeowner was facing this situation in front of his home, landscape contractor Lee Gilliam arrived on scene to solve his problem.
How to Remove Arborvitaes
- The first step in any digging project is to contact the national call-before-you-dig number at 8-1-1. Dig Safe will mark your underground utilities to avoid a dangerous accident.
- Remove any plants from the area that you want to keep but might get damaged. Cut the branches back to just in front of a new shoot so the plant is easier to handle and can recover from replanting easier. Dig around their base to preserve their rootballs and temporarily store them in a soil-filled bucket.
- Trim back the branches on the arborvitaes. You can do this with loppers or a chainsaw, depending on the tree. If you’re using a chainsaw, be sure to put on chain saw chaps, gloves, face and eye protection as well as hearing protection. Remove the branches from the areas so you have safe footing while cutting the rest of the tree.
- To cut thick arborvitae trunks down, you’ll need to cut a bird’s mouth. At around 4 to 5 feet from the ground, start with a level cut just about halfway through the tree. Then, cut up at a 45-degree angle to remove a wedge-shaped chunk of the trunk. Finish the cut by cutting the back of the tree to relieve the pressure. Note: If the tree seems as though it will fall in the wrong direction, consider tying a rope to the tree and pulling while the back cut is made.
- Use shovels and a pickaxe to break up the root ball around the trunk. If there are any stubborn roots, cut through them with the reciprocating saw. Do not use a chainsaw in the dirt as it will dull the chain and could result in dangerous kickback.
- To prep the soil for new plants, make sure to remove all of the roots possible. Then, apply compost to the soil and mix it about 5 inches deep with a rototiller.
- Replant the removed shrubs and plants as desired.
Resources
811 was called before the project was started.
To cut down the arborvitae trees, Lee preferred using a chainsaw. Proper PPE of head protection with a visor, eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, and chaps must be worn when operating a chainsaw. Lee used loppers to cut the branches that were in the way of the chainsaw cuts.
To remove the stumps and root systems, they used a mix of tools: shovels, pickaxe, grub axe, rakes, and a pry bar. For any tough roots, Lee used a reciprocating saw. Lee says do not use the chainsaw when cutting close to the ground because you don’t want the dirt to dull the chain.
To prep the soil for new plants, Lee added organic compost to the existing garden bed. To break up the old, compact soil, Lee went in with a rototiller.
Materials
Tools
You may want to rent a rototiller.
