Dead plant removal in Ottery St Mary

### Why Remove Dead Plants Properly?

**Because half-arsed removal causes problems later.**

If you just yank a dead plant out and leave the roots, you're asking for trouble. They rot underground, harbour pests, create air pockets in the soil, and sometimes even resprout if there's any life left in them.

Proper removal means digging the whole thing out, clearing the roots, and leaving you with clean soil ready for new planting.

Plus, let's be honest: **dead plants look depressing**. Getting rid of them instantly makes your garden feel better.

> 💡 **Pro tip:** If something's died, work out why before replanting the same spot. Poor drainage? Too much shade? Wrong soil? No point planting the same thing again if it's just going to die.

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### What Proper Removal Looks Like

| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Quick Pull | |--------------|---------------| | Entire root system removed | Roots left rotting underground | | Soil forked over and aerated | Compacted soil with gaps | | Space ready for immediate replanting | Need to dig again before planting | | Waste removed and disposed of | Dead plant dumped in a corner somewhere |

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### What Gets Done

**🔧 The Removal Process**

| Stage | What Happens | |-------|--------------| | **Assessment** | How big? How deep are the roots? | | **Dig out** | Plant removed completely, roots cleared | | **Soil prep** | Fork over the area, break up compacted soil | | **Clean up** | All waste removed, area tidied |

**📦 You're Left With** - Dead plant completely gone (no trace) - Clean soil ready for replanting - Area looking tidy and fresh - All green waste removed from site

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### Common Scenarios

**Annual bedding that's finished?** Quick job - shallow roots, lift and clear. Takes minutes.

**Dead shrub that's been there years?** Bigger job - established root system needs digging out. Takes longer but worth doing properly.

**Perennial that's outgrown its space?** Can be removed and potted up if you want to relocate it, or just dug out and disposed of if you're done with it.

**Something that keeps dying in the same spot?** I'll dig it out and flag the issue - probably drainage or wrong aspect. You can decide whether to amend soil or plant something more suitable.

**Old roses/shrubs past their best?** Need cutting back before digging to make removal manageable. Root ball can be substantial - proper job.

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### Pricing

| Job Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay | |----------|----------------|------------| | Small plants (bedding, small perennials) | 1 hr | **£60** | | Medium shrubs or multiple plants | 1.5-2 hrs | **£85-£110** | | Large established shrubs | 2-3 hrs | **£110-£160** |

*Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Big root systems or difficult access adds time.*

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### Perfect For Your Garden If...

✅ **Plants have died and look rubbish** - instant improvement when they're gone

✅ **You're redesigning a bed** - clear out the old before planting the new

✅ **Things are overgrown or in wrong places** - remove and start fresh

✅ **Garden's been neglected** - clearing dead stuff is the first step