How to Kill Shrubs

Overview

Shrubs grow throughout the landscape. Natural shrubs thrive in woodlands and along edges of fields, while gardeners plant cultivated shrubs around their homes. Usually sought-after plants, there may be times you want to kill shrubs in your landscape. If not done correctly, the shrubs will re-sprout and come back in short order. Remove the shrub and block any remaining roots from re-sprouting to guarantee the shrub's demise.

Step 1

Remove all the branches with leaves from the shrub with a pruning saw or pruning shears. Shrubs need photosynthesis to live. By removing all the branches with foliage, you are taking the first step to killing the shrub.

Step 2

Paint a non-selective herbicide that contains the active ingredient glyphosate on the cut ends of the branches.

Step 3

Dig up the stump of the shrub. Dig around the shrub 2 feet from the trunk. Remove soil as necessary and work your shovel down and under the shrub stump. After it's adequately loosened the stump will pull out.

Step 4

Lay down black landscape fabric over the shrub's former location for a few weeks. If there are any living roots left in the ground, the fabric will prevent them from accessing sunlight and they will quickly die out.