If you’re looking for a landscape makeover with changes that will make a noticeable difference, replacing shrubs is a wise move.
North Texas homeowners sometimes assume they have to make major or drastic changes on their property to update it in a way that gets noticed. But simply replacing shrubs can be a cost-effective project that makes a huge difference.
In this article, we’ll dive into how to remove old shrubs so that you can make the best choices for your North Texas home.
We actually wrote an entire article on how to know if it’s time to replace shrubs. If you are on the fence about whether or not you want to take the leap, that article might give you some inspiration.
Potential reasons might include a shrub that is underperforming, has been damaged or diseased, or has outgrown the area.
But aesthetics is also a perfectly valid reason.
Sometimes homeowners are simply ready for a change and want to freshen their landscape with a brand-new look. Replacing shrubs can definitely achieve this. In fact, research shows that landscape enhancements (like new shrubs) can boost curb appeal and property value.
Updated landscaping looks great and that makes you feel good.
Of course, you might also have functional reasons. Sometimes homeowners have very complex landscapes with many different types of plants and it ends up being a lot of work. If you’re looking to create a lower-maintenance landscape, you might want to replace the existing shrubs with some that are simpler to maintain.
The reasoning behind why you are replacing shrubs is important as you make decisions going forward. That’s because you want to be sure to choose new shrubs that achieve your goals.
For instance, as we mentioned above, if you are trying to decrease the amount of maintenance needed for your property, then you might want to think about low-maintenance shrub options.
If you didn’t like some of your current shrubs for specific reasons (ie: they’re messy, too big for the space, or a color you don’t prefer), then you’ll want to use those preferences in making decisions for future shrubs.
You might also be wondering about the best way to remove old shrubs. It’s important to recognize that removing shrubs (particularly large ones) is a fairly laborious task. It can require tools like bypass loppers, a chainsaw, protective gear, a hedge trimmer, and possibly others.
Typically, removing shrubs starts with reducing their size (by cutting away branches). Then, the larger portion of the shrub can be removed using a chainsaw. Eventually, the shrub will be at a size where it’s reasonable to start digging it out. It’s important to cut through the roots at the base of the stump and pull the entire stump out.
Removing shrubs is not something that we would recommend as a DIY landscape task. It’s one of those projects that homeowners sometimes assume will be easier than it really is.
In reality, it’s back-breaking, difficult work getting the entire shrub completely removed. It could easily consume an entire weekend (or more) if you’re looking to remove multiple shrubs.
Instead, removing and replacing shrubs is a task typically best left to pros. In addition to not having to use up your free time doing laborious work in the yard, you’ll also ensure that these tasks are handled properly.
In the next section we’ll talk about how installing new shrubs the right way is critically important to their success.
We also want to mention the importance of ensuring that new shrubs are installed properly. Planting mistakes can sometimes be the reason why shrubs perform poorly. If a shrub is not installed correctly, it may not be able to ever perform well.
Homeowners don’t always realize that they can’t just plant a shrub anywhere they like. You have to pay attention to the micro-climate of the landscape bed. That includes how much sun, wind, and moisture that bed receives. As an example, some plants will naturally thrive in full sun while others need some shade.
There’s a saying in the landscape industry that goes, right plant, right place. When it gets ignored, a plant can really struggle and start to look subpar.
Unfortunately, no plant health care program can overcome a plant problem that is due to a poor location. That plant is always going to struggle in that spot.
This is why shrub installation is also best left to landscaping professionals.
They’ll know exactly where on your property shrubs will look and perform their best. A landscaper will likely also have access to more shrub choices than you’d find at your average big box store. A landscaper can use their horticultural expertise to help you make the best decisions in shrub selection.
While removing and replacing shrubs is by no means rocket science, it is more involved than people tend to realize. And frankly, it’s simply a lot easier to hand this task over to a professional and make sure that it’s done right so that you get the most possible value out of the results.
Instead of having to worry about all of the details, you can work with a landscaping professional who will ensure your existing shrubs are properly removed and new ones are properly installed so that you are set up for success.
At Grassperson, we love working on these makeover types of projects as they can make a huge difference in transforming a property and increasing curb appeal.
We’re here to make everything simple and streamlined for you.
We understand that you simply want to know that your landscape is in good hands and will continue to perform well. By making the wise investment to work with a pro, you can sit back and relax knowing that it will all come together exactly as planned.
Ready to have a truly impressive Northern Texas yard? Get in touch with us so we can talk about some enhancements that might work best for your unique property.
