We are currently planning to plant a hedge at the front of our house. At present the front of our property has a number of mature shrubs which need to be removed. What is the easiest way to remove the shrubs and then what is required to prepare the soil for planting the new hedge.
I'm afraid there is only one way to do it properly. That means pruning the shrubs back hard to the trunk and then digging around the root area with a strong, sharp spade to cut through the roots.
Then with the aid of a pickaxe or long crow-bar you can prize the trunk out of the ground. Its also good to soak the soil before prizing it out - this softens it all up and makes the root-release easier.
You should then pull out as much of the old roots in the surrounding area as possible and add lots of compost to the soil along with a good sprinkle of blood and bone which is the best slow release fertiliser you can get and is friendly to natives.
Some folks believe that its OK to kill it off with a Blackberry and Tree Killer chemical and then just cut it off at ground level and plant the new shrubs next to it. I don't believe that this is the best way to get a healthy new hedge as the new roots will be too restricted in amongst the old ones.
The only other solution is to pay someone else to do it for you.
Good luck.