Author Topic: Yew bush removal (Read 21856 times)

BridgeRunner · « **on:** March 20, 2010, 10:44:14 PM »

Got the go-ahead from the landlords/in-laws to take out the hideous yew bushes in front.

The fun way is probably to chain it to a truck and pull, but I don't have a truck. Might work with the car. Might be safer for the foundation to just cut 'em down and hack up the stumps.

Advice?

For the record, I will be building some raised beds in the area, so I don't need to get the area all that root-free.

CNYCacher · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2010, 10:50:25 PM »

Pluck Yew, Bridgewater. Pluck Yew.

never_retreat · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2010, 10:54:15 PM »

Is napalm out of the question?

sanglant · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2010, 10:58:09 PM »

if pulling them out i would cut the roots first.

round up first might make it easier going(if it will kill them[i don't know that it will

]), if there's nothing you don't want rid of near them.

hmm, on second thought. safe backdrop? as in can you shoot them out.

might be a good road trip.

i'll bring the ammo.

Fly320s · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2010, 11:36:51 PM »

Cut them down to a stump. If you want to reuse that area, dig up most of the roots then yank out the stump. Or just dig them out, but that will take about an hour per bush if they are big.

If you dont want to use the area this year, leave the stumps. They wont grow back.

PTK · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:06:24 AM »

I'm going to say it before anyone else.

Detcord.

KD5NRH · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:08:53 AM »

Quote from: BridgeWalker on March 20, 2010, 10:44:14 PM

Advice?

Drill, black powder, safety fuse.

Hawkmoon · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:16:10 AM »

My father planted several yews along the front of our house when I was a sprout. Many years later, after he died, my brother and I were asked by our mother to remove them. OMG! Those who advocate dynamite or C4 are the people you NEED to listen to. The roots are killers. By all means, cut the bushes down to the stump(s) first. Then dig out around the roots, loosen things up as much as possible, and then (and ONLY then) hook up and yank them out.

Do you folks own and drive a "car"? If so, forget yanking yews. Find somebody with at least a 3/4 ton pickup and four-wheel drive. If the engine happens to be a turbo diesel, so much the better.

French G. · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:24:22 AM »

Quote from: Hawkmoon on March 21, 2010, 01:16:10 AM

Do you folks own and drive a "car"? If so, forget yanking yews. Find somebody with at least a 3/4 ton pickup and four-wheel drive. If the engine happens to be a turbo diesel, so much the better.

Oh yew of little faith. All you need is inertia. 100ft of chain and 75 ft of head start ought to do.

When I was pulling stumps with my F-150 I was at 15-20mph when the chain went taut. Something was going to move. Only broke the chain once, figured there was no way the chain could break the truck. I've also been party to a little GMC Jimmy un-sticking a 45,000 GVW Mack truck. Amazing what happens when 150 feet of nylon web sling goes taut. But in yew case, det cord sounds like more fun.

PTK · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2010, 03:19:46 AM »

FWIW, with proper safety distances, using detcord for that purpose is permissible according to the BATFE. Just sayin'.

geronimotwo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2010, 08:04:39 AM »

if yew plan on removing the roots, i would leaf enough of the tree to get a bite for the chain. you didn't say how big they are (i've seen 'em from 3'-12'), but typically the higher the chain bite the easier they will pull out. they will come out easier if you loosen the dirt with a shovel or pickaxe

Jamisjockey · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2010, 08:28:47 AM »

Wax it. Oh, wait...

Tie a rope around the bush and to the back of a pick up truck....

BridgeRunner · « **Reply #12 on:** March 21, 2010, 08:55:06 AM »

Quote from: JamisJockey on March 21, 2010, 08:28:47 AM

Wax it. Oh, wait...

Isn't there supposed to be a car, and maybe an ex-boyfriend involved?

mgdavis · « **Reply #13 on:** March 21, 2010, 10:00:09 AM »

F-550 with a boom crane worked pretty well when we were pulling 8" dia cedar stumps last week. Beat the hell out of digging them out.

roo_ster · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2010, 10:25:35 AM »

If you are building raised beds over hte area, cut them of at ground level and call it good.

Declaration Day · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2010, 10:32:08 AM »

Quote from: jfruser on March 21, 2010, 10:25:35 AM

If you are building raised beds over the area, cut them of at ground level and call it good.

^^^Yep. I do this sort of thing for a living. Tearing the stumps out is completely unnecessary if you're piling several inches of soil on top.

Tallpine · « **Reply #16 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:17:16 PM »

Save the stems that you cut off for making wizard staffs

KD5NRH · « **Reply #17 on:** March 21, 2010, 07:09:46 PM »

Befriend some stoners. Make up a few convincing fake articles about the narcotic effects of yew root.

Larry Ashcraft · « **Reply #18 on:** March 21, 2010, 08:17:12 PM »

Straight, non smart ass answer: Cut them down, use straight 2,4 D (Weed B Gone) on the stumps.

Result: dead trees.

Leatherneck · « **Reply #19 on:** March 22, 2010, 03:39:02 PM »

As DD and JFR say, just cut them flush with thr ground. The roots won't sprout new growth.

If you were to jerk the roots out, who knows what else you might pull up like water/sewer/septic pipes, TV or phone lines, gas lines, etc.

TC

Scout26 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 23, 2010, 10:28:54 PM »

Quote from: JamisJockey on March 21, 2010, 08:28:47 AM

Wax it. Oh, wait...

Tie a rope around the bush and to the back of a pick up truck....

You forgot about the "drink copious supply of beer first" part.

Scout26 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 23, 2010, 10:52:36 PM »

And video the entire process and post on Yewtube.

I can't believe I was the first with this.....

sanglant · « **Reply #22 on:** March 24, 2010, 12:04:46 AM »

Quote from: scout26 on March 23, 2010, 10:52:36 PM

And video the entire process and post on Yewtube.

I can't believe I was the first with this.....

i was busy trying to get together a road trip to go............................... nah best not to post that pun.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #23 on:** March 24, 2010, 12:08:23 AM »

Quote from: Leatherneck on March 22, 2010, 03:39:02 PM

As DD and JFR say, just cut them flush with thr ground. The roots won't sprout new growth.

Dunno about Yew, but my holly did sprout back several times even though the stumps were cut off below ground level.

Quote from: Larry Ashcraft on March 21, 2010, 08:17:12 PM

Straight, non smart ass answer: Cut them down, use straight 2,4 D (Weed B Gone) on the stumps.

That is what finally took care of my holly bushes. After the 2nd summer of them sending up new sprouts, I found the stumps, drilled holes into them, and filled the holes with brush killer (being careful not to spill it around the stumps). Haven't had sprouts since...

Chris

Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas · « **Reply #24 on:** March 24, 2010, 02:04:58 AM »

Can you soak them with diesel and set them ablaze? Fire is always fun.

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Author Topic: Yew bush removal (Read 21856 times)