Forsythia (digging out)

Meomye

I have a very old woody Forsythia which currently forms part of a hedge (East facing) that I intend to remove. Can anyone tell me the best way to go about it. I have cut it down to about 60cm. A lot of it was rotten at the bottom and just broke off. Does it have a deep root system? I am thinking of replacing it with a Photinia Red Robin, just for the contrast in colour. Thanks

nutcutlet

I hack in with a mattock and either saw or use the loppers on the roots one at a time. A large shrub is hard going and sometimes I just  saw them as low as possible and plant in front of them

Lizzie27

I do the same as Nutcutlet, but use a pickaxe to hook under the crown to lever the whole plant up, then saw each root in turn around the crown - but it is jolly hard work.

Meomye

Thanks Lizzie and Nutcutlet for advice, it is appreciated.