killing a rhododendron

[kaylie]

There is one in our front yard that is quite a beast. At least 10-12 feet tall. We're going to take a chain saw to it this weekend, but what should I do to get rid of the roots? Is there anything I can do short of digging them up?

[InBetweenDays]

You could probably take a chain saw to them and grind them down into the soil. However, large rhododendrons may be sought after. Have you considered posting it as free on Craigslist? You may have someone who wants it who is willing to come and get rid of it for you.

[kaylie]

Hmmmm...this is an interesting idea. I like it. Can you move them while they're flowering?

[FoxInFiji]

I want it! We can barely grow them up here. I keep planting them and they just struggle or die. Our soil is not acidic enough for them either.

[kaylie]

If I drove something larger than a Prius, I would totally truck it out to you in exchange for a year's worth of renovation tips =)

MIL tried to convince us to keep it, but our inspector suggested getting rid of it because it's not helping the wood-framed window it sits in front of.

[kaylie]

I put it on CL last night and so far I got one email asking if it's still available, but it *might* be spam.

I'm planning on changing out a lot of the landscaping over time, but I'll probably just leave the spot empty for now. Whatever goes in with definitely be smaller. I'm thinking I want peonies, but I have to learn more about gardening so I know what to put with them since they'll only be out for part of the year.

[treedimensional]

Oh, my. Ripping out a mature Rhodo is a terrible loss. I hope you can find someone to take it. It's a valuable plant. I sold mine on CL for big bucks.
As for roots- rhododendrons don't have "big" roots. The root system is fibrous and easy to dig up and transplant (at least for me- I've transplanted many and don't recall ever losing one).

[Susie]

May 17, 2012 13:04:53 GMT -5 kaylie said:

Hmmmm...this is an interesting idea. I like it. Can you move them while they're flowering?

Wait til it finishes flowering, then try to transplant.

It's tough to do successfully with large ones, though. We have one that was planted too close to the house, and I'm not sure it's worth the effort to try to move it to another part of the yard. Odds of it surviving aren't good.