Buxus hedge

[melbrackstone]

I have a 20 year old buxus hedge that I'm considering digging up. What do you all think I should be doing to prepare it for a Spring dig?

It's in very poor, heavy thin soil, with, (I suspect,) most of the roots heading under a concrete pathway.

Should I be slicing a spade along the edge of the pathway to get some closer feeding roots happening? If I do that, should I give it another year and do some slicing elsewhere during the growing season?

Any suggestions that I probably haven't thought of?

The hedge is around 600mm high... and there are around 8 trees in it, so it's not a massive project, but I would like to save as many as possible!

Then I'll plant some Melaleuca linariifolia (claret top) there instead.

[melbrackstone]

don't know what's happened here, but when I edited my post, I ended up with two. Can one of the mods please delete this one?

[kcpoole]

If the ground is poor and you have time, I would pre cut the roots. I have dug them from gardens and softer soil with no prep and got lots of roots
Soak the ground well before you dig as well to soften it up will help too come dig time.

Ken

[melbrackstone]

Thanks Ken, yes the ground is poor, (and very hard,) and I do have time, since they're in my own yard.

I'll keep everyone updated on how I go.

Cheers