How I Removed Old Thuja Shrubs from My Garden

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Old thuja shrubs can look deceptively easy to remove.

The trunks may not look particularly large, but once the plants have been growing in the same place for many years, the job becomes less about one big cut and more about dealing with dense branches, awkward access, multiple stems, old wood, and finally the stumps.

I recently removed three old, partly dried-out thuja shrubs from my garden, and having the right combination of tools made a huge difference.

Why Old Thuja Can Be More Work Than Expected

The main problem in my case was not simply the thickness of the trunks.

The plants had become dense and tangled over the years. Before reaching the main stems, I had to remove plenty of smaller branches and work my way gradually towards the base.

This is also why old conifers can reach the point where replacement makes more sense than renovation. Most conifers do not reliably regrow from old bare wood after hard pruning, so badly overgrown or declining plants can be difficult to restore successfully.

There is also much more waste than you might expect. Once mature thuja shrubs are cut down, the branches and trunks quickly turn into a surprisingly large pile of material.

My Main Tool: A Corded Ryobi Chainsaw

For the main cutting work I used a corded Ryobi chainsaw.

For this type of job, a corded saw still has one big advantage: continuous power.

When there are several old shrubs to cut down and plenty of thicker stems to work through, there is no need to think about battery runtime or stopping to recharge.

It worked very well for the heavier part of the job, but proper chainsaw PPE is essential.

The disadvantage becomes obvious once you start moving around the shrubs. The cable has to follow you, and around branches, trunks and uneven ground it can become inconvenient.

That is where a smaller cordless saw became much more useful.

A Mini Cordless Saw Was Perfect for the Finishing Work

For smaller branches and awkward cuts I used my Milwaukee cordless pruning saw.

This was probably the most convenient tool once the main trunks had been dealt with.

It was much easier to move around the remaining branches, cut material into smaller pieces and work in places where using a full-size chainsaw would have been unnecessarily cumbersome.

That combination worked very well:

Corded chainsaw for longer cutting sessions and thicker material

Compact cordless saw for branches, clean-up and awkward areas

One Important Tip Before Cutting the Stumps

If you plan to remove the roots afterwards, think before cutting every trunk completely flush with the ground.

Leaving part of the trunk standing can give you useful leverage when rocking and digging out the root system. RHS recommends exactly this approach for smaller trees and shrubs when the stump is being removed manually.

For larger or very stubborn stumps, a stump grinder or machinery can make far more sense than spending hours digging.

A Cordless Alternative I Would Consider

For someone starting this type of project today, I can definitely see the advantage of replacing the cable with a proper cordless chainsaw.

Ryobi OCS1830 18V ONE+ Brushless Chainsaw

The Ryobi OCS1830 is particularly interesting because it sits nicely between a compact pruning saw and a much larger petrol chainsaw.

It uses an 18V brushless motor together with a 30cm Oregon bar and chain, with a chain speed of 10 m/s. It also features automatic chain lubrication, tool-free chain tensioning, and mechanical and electrical chain braking.

For garden work, one of its biggest advantages is freedom of movement.

There is no extension cable to drag between shrubs, no cable getting caught around branches, and no petrol engine to start or maintain. That can make a noticeable difference when working around shrubs, trees, and awkward corners of the garden.

The OCS1830 is also part of Ryobi’s ONE+ system, which means the same 18V batteries can be used across a wide range of Ryobi garden and DIY tools.

For removing old shrubs, pruning larger branches, cutting logs, and general garden maintenance, it is the kind of tool that can remain useful long after one particular project is finished.

Which Version Should You Choose?

There are two good options depending on whether you already use Ryobi ONE+ tools.

Option 1: Ryobi OCS1830 Tool Only

This version is the best choice if you already own compatible Ryobi ONE+ batteries and a charger.

You are paying only for the chainsaw itself, without buying another battery system you may not need.

18V ONE+ battery platform

Brushless motor

30cm Oregon bar and chain

10 m/s chain speed

Automatic chain lubrication

Tool-free chain tensioning

Mechanical and electrical chain braking

Battery and charger not included

Option 2: Ryobi RCS1830-150 Complete Kit

If you are new to Ryobi ONE+, the complete RCS1830-150 kit makes much more sense.

It includes the same 30cm brushless chainsaw together with a 5.0Ah ONE+ battery and charger, so you have everything needed to start working without having to choose compatible components separately.

A 5.0 Ah battery is a sensible match for more demanding garden work, particularly when cutting thicker branches, old shrubs, or several pieces of timber in one session.

Another advantage is that the battery is not limited to this one tool. Once you are in the ONE+ system, it can also be used with many other compatible Ryobi garden and DIY tools.

18V ONE+ brushless chainsaw

30cm Oregon bar and chain

5.0Ah ONE+ battery included

Charger included

Automatic chain lubrication

Tool-free chain tensioning

Mechanical and electrical chain braking

Complete starter kit with battery and charger

Final Thoughts

Removing the old thujas was not particularly complicated, but it was more work than it first appeared.

The best approach for me was to break the job into stages: clear the smaller growth first, expose the main stems, cut the heavier sections, and then reduce everything into manageable pieces.

A full-size chainsaw made the main removal much faster, while the compact cordless saw was far more convenient for the detailed work afterwards.

And once the old shrubs were finally gone, the biggest reward was not just finishing the job — it was suddenly having a completely open area of the garden ready for something new.

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