- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Expert Shares Tips for Removing Invasive Plants Around Shrubs
Landscape designer offers advice on tackling overgrowth without damaging roots
Published on Mar. 8, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
We asked landscape designer Beth Rudd-Myers of Bright Leaf Landscaping in North Carolina for her expertise on how to remove overgrowth around shrubs without causing damage. She provided tips on handling shallow-rooted weeds and vines versus deep-rooted woody plants, as well as advice on caring for shrubs after weeding.
Why it matters
Leaving invasive plants to grow through shrubs can be more harmful than removing them, as the competition for resources can severely damage the shrubs. Properly removing the overgrowth can help the shrubs thrive by eliminating competition for sunlight, water, and nutrients.
The details
For shallow-rooted weeds and vines like ivy, Rudd-Myers recommends hand-pulling to remove every last tendril. For deeper-rooted woody plants like privet, she advises clearing debris, cutting the stem below the soil line, and potentially using herbicide on the stump if the plant is too large to dig out. She cautions against trying to transplant overgrown shrubs, as the process is risky and often doesn't work. Instead, she suggests prioritizing the shrubs you want to keep and removing the ones you're less committed to.
- The article was published on March 8, 2026.
The players
Beth Rudd-Myers
A landscape and container designer for Bright Leaf Landscaping, which provides landscape design and installation services in Chapel Hill and Durham, North Carolina.
Bright Leaf Landscaping
A landscape design and installation company based in Durham, North Carolina.
What they’re saying
“If there's ivy growing through, leaving it is going to disturb it more than removing it. If you don't pull it out, it's just going to be more competition for that plant, which is more problematic.”
— Beth Rudd-Myers, Landscape Designer (southernliving.com)
“Pull the soil away a little bit, and try to cut it out a little beneath the soil. I usually try to get about 6 inches down.”
— Beth Rudd-Myers, Landscape Designer (southernliving.com)
“In this case, what you do is cut it a little above the soil and paint it with Roundup. Herbicides aren't my first choice, but I'll use them for something like a large privet bush that would be too physically challenging to remove.”
— Beth Rudd-Myers, Landscape Designer (southernliving.com)
What’s next
Rudd-Myers suggests closely monitoring the area after removing overgrowth, as the bare soil may allow new weeds to germinate. She recommends applying a 2-inch layer of mulch around the base of the shrubs to help prevent further weed growth.
The takeaway
Properly removing invasive plants growing through shrubs, whether by hand-pulling or using targeted herbicide application, can help the shrubs thrive by eliminating competition for resources. This process, though potentially labor-intensive, is often necessary to maintain the health and appearance of valuable shrubs in the garden.
