Lilac removal

[LexMitior]

I have a very old, very ugly lilac which I want to remove.

I'm thinking of doing this myself, and prepared for the digging, but wondered about what the best way would be to deal with the roots?

Any tips appreciated!

I'm in the middle of this myself, so watching with interest! So far I have sawn through all but one of the trunks (it was a beast: I ended up chopping it into logs and still some of them were too heavy for me to lift!). I am guiltily planning to resort to nasty stump-killer if necessary, to stop it suckering. But I am hopeful that frosts getting into the exposed sawn-off stumps may do the trick. There was a rather smaller ugly lilac (why do people plant them?!) here when we moved in, and four years later, I was able to tug the fully rotten, frost-split stump out of the soil with no trouble.

The only lilac we've ever removed was something of an accident. DH leaned against it one day, and the whole thing keeled over and came crashing down. It was completely rotten through at the base.

They aren't particularly long-lived, so yours might be easier than you think to get out.

I dug up a couple last year and people were thrilled to get them via Freecycle/FB marketplace (free).

With lots of watering they sprouted new growth quickly per the photos sent me by the new owners.

Just a thought; they might get a second chance.

I have had one die on me but this one is vigorous and but alas, has not flowered for some years and is all wood.

I have an Oregon Grape in a similar state. These are nice plants but even with cosseting over the last three years they just haven't performed. The previous owner just did not prune or shape them.

Sometimes they rejuvenate if you cut the wood to the ground.

We dug out as much dirt as possible but had to use a power saw on the main roots. It still lived when quickly transplanted and watered.

Okay this process is very hard. Still digging. Cutting roots but so tempted to just chainsaw/mattock/axe it.

Plus point was that the Oregon Grape came out pretty easily.

Update! I finally removed it by digging with a mattock which is great tool. Recommended!