How to Kill a Juniper Bush
Juniper bushes (Juniperus spp.) are hardy plants, growing in many light conditions and surviving difficult drought situations. Left unpruned, juniper bushes can grow tall enough to shade lower plants and keep them from growing. If you don't like the look of your juniper bush or it's too much trouble to continue pruning it into shape, killing it helps brighten your garden and provide space for new plantings. Junipers can sometimes grow from root cuttings, so remove as much root as possible when disposing of the plant.
Cut the bush down to ground level using a chain saw or ax. This helps kill the bush and facilitates its removal. Wait at least a few days before removing the roots; if cutting down the bush kills the plant and the roots, the dry roots are easier to extract from the soil. If cutting the bush doesn't kill it, removing the root system finishes the job.
Water the ground for several feet around the stump until the ground is completely saturated. Wet ground is easier to dig through than dry ground.
Dig trenches along each root line with your shovel. Cut the roots with pruning shears as close to the stump as you can and then every two feet down the root line to help aid in root removal.
Pull the stump out of the ground using your shovel as leverage under it. If it doesn't move, look for additional root lines to cut with your pruning shears. Some roots may be large enough to require a hacksaw, depending on the size of your bush.
Pull all root sections from the trenches. Some root ends may be entangled with roots of other nearby plants. If you can't easily extract them, leave them in the dirt but watch the area for juniper seedlings -- some can grow from root cuttings. If you see a seedling, trim it below the soil line immediately using your pruning shears, or try to pull it out by the roots to see if the root can untangle itself from the others.
Backfill the trenches with dirt using your shovel.
- Although you can use herbicides -- basic weed-killing varieties usually work -- found at garden supply stores to kill your juniper bush, this can contaminate the soil. Water carries the herbicide to nearby plants and some herbicides remain in the soil for months, often keeping new plants from growing in that area.
Based outside Atlanta, Ga., Shala Munroe has been writing and copy editing since 1995. Beginning her career at newspapers such as the "Marietta Daily Journal" and the "Atlanta Business Chronicle," she most recently worked in communications and management for several nonprofit organizations before purchasing a flower shop in 2006. She earned a BA in communications from Jacksonville State University.