Removing large arborvitae?

[bligh61]

I need to remove 15 10-15' arborvitae. No new planting going in the spot. Can I flush cut, cover with top and mulch, without fear of them growing back?

[P.Services]

cant you spade them out then ball and bag them, those things are worth some money!

[bligh61]

large scale job, no time to nance around.

[AL Inc]

No, they won't grow back.

[grandview (2006)]

Hire a tree service to chainsaw them down and stump grind them. Add a little to the estimate for yourself and you don't even have to get your hands dirty.

[AGLA]

You might want to consider ripping them out before you flush cut them. There is most likely a thick mat of fibery roots near the surface all around them. It might be better to dig them out and use the trunks to leverage out the root system, if you are going to plant where these are. A stump grinder is not going to do anything more than the main stump of the trunk.

[tthomass]

Nothing is going in their place? Sure, flush cut. Its an easy job and easy $.

For extra insurance I cut about a 2" deep X in the top and pour gas in it.......soaks it in and no more growth.

Tree people probably won't give you more then $100 per tree if that interests you.

[Dub's Shrubs]

First off what kind of a professinal landscaper would pour gas in to the ground. You know who i'm talking about but I think if you can't do things the right way don't do it at all. Guys like you are the reason why some people are so skeptical on highering a landscaper they have had to many guys like you burn them SORRY FOR GETTING OF THE SUBJUCT BUT GUYS LIKE THAT BURN MY @#$ IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

[Littletruck]

Pulling them out can really be harder than it sounds, I flush cut and use my stump grinder. But they wont grow back or throw off suckers even if you just cut, so if you cover in mulch and plant next to them you should be ok, if you can get a hole next to them.

[mattfromNY]

We recently pulled 4 that were 10-12' high. Just leaned them over (the whole tree), and the roots started coming up, were able to cut enough of the roots that nothing showed above ground. Much like what AGLA said, using the plant as leverage.

[tthomass]

Dub's Shrubs.........calm down and lose the attitude. "You know who I'm talking about".

Often used is Round Up, a common practice here. NOTHING is being planted in the same area. Such practice kills the stump to prevent any future shoots. Gas is more commonly found readily available. As for pouring into the ground.......wrong, only the stump and you're looking at 4oz. Guess you've never overfilled a blower or anything.

As for burning customers......my portfolio suggests otherwise. This is lawnsite, an open forum for learning practices, technique, specs, suggestions and opinions, not how to be an e-thug.