Removing a large laurel

hiace_drifter · Post by **hiace_drifter** » Sun Jan 24, 2021 7:42 am

I got the screwfix reciprocating and saw and i'm very disappointed. It seems much slower than cutting with a handsaw (I was cutting damp 2x4 and deckingboards). I wonder if I am doing something wrong? Or is the supplied wood blade useless?

I haven't tried the laurel yet, but I think will use the handsaw for that too, I will get a bow saw as recommended for the larger trunks.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sun Jan 24, 2021 9:44 am

I did say from the off that a chainsaw is what you need. A reciprocating saw is slower but much depends on the blade you have in it. You need a deep tooth, wider-spaced teeth blade. I do a lot of cutting back on my laurels and I have a range of tools. The chainsaw is best for speed at the bigger stuff, and I use loppers to take the 3/4" branches off quickly. I bought the Screwfix electric one for £40 as I had a 6" branch to take off an Ash tree about 12 foot up, it went through easily. I have a shorter bar I can swap to as the Oregon bars and chains fit and the shorter blade is easier to handle at times. The electric is less intimidating than the petrol saw. You need confidence, good concentration, stability and a firm grip, it is not a tool for all.

As this is a one-off job, I appreciate you do not want to do another £40 but a chainsaw is best. Have you had a quote from a tree surgeon to do the job? They will do it in a couple of hours, chip the waste and clear up. Probably cheaper than you think.

DWD

hiace_drifter · Post by **hiace_drifter** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:56 am

Ok, the laurel is now reduced to a multi trunk stump. I just used long handled loppers and a pruning saw. None of these pansy power tools ha ha. Anyway .... now to get rid of the stump. I have heard the roots spread out as wide as the height of the bush so we're talking 15-20ft, so my plan is just to destroy the inner core and leave the outer roots to rot. I have seen SBK tree stump killer, and eco plugs. Any thoughts? I would like to use the area for planting or a pond eventually.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 8:54 am

How did you deal with the green waste?

DWD

hiace_drifter · Post by **hiace_drifter** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:50 am

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 8:54 am How did you deal with the green waste?

DWD

Borrowed a chipper, filled 16 large sacks, 2 trips to the tip. 6 more sacks to go. So on that front I did indeed use a pansy power tool ha ha

hiace_drifter · Post by **hiace_drifter** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:50 am

i've also heard epsom salts works on stumps ... anyone tried it?

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 10:00 am

I have a chipper, it is amazing how a mountain of branches are reduced in no time.

DWD

Megan81 · Post by **Megan81** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 1:24 pm

ha ha ha :) That's the exact kind of dad joke I make!!!!! I had a pot of basil from the supermarket, and realised the leaves were brown when i got home. I took it back to the customer service desk and said "this basil's fawlty". But the assistant too laugh. :)

The assist"ant" had a good sense of humor

hiace_drifter · Post by **hiace_drifter** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 2:51 pm

Tree surgeon quote... £250. Ouch

hiace_drifter · Post by **hiace_drifter** » Sun Mar 28, 2021 4:10 pm

still going. bloody thing.

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hiace_drifter · Post by **hiace_drifter** » Tue Apr 13, 2021 7:00 am

I'm sure you'll all be delighted to know the laurel is now gone. A few VERY long roots left spreading horizontally under the lawn, but the stump killer should see those off over the next few months. It took hours and was back breaking, but very satisfying to have saved me the money. Each of those stumps was a two man lift, and they didn't even go down very far!