How do I remove buried chicken wire

[AliG]

After losing 15m of fence to a fallen tree due to recent winds, we decided to replace the whole fence.

 

In front of the fence the previous owners had put a post and chicken wire fence.

 

I thought it was pretty ugly and had considered pulling it out but now seems the time.

 

Little did I know that the fence is buried under years of fallen leaves and plants that have now grown through it.

 

There is about a foot of fence buried, but it sits pretty much horizontally under 6 inches of growth. So there is kind of a chicken wire L with about 1ft above ground and 1 ft under the undergrowth.

 

When you pull at the piece above ground it lifts up all the roots and plants growing through the wire, like lifting a carpet, but there is too much growth through the wire to pull it out. Trying to apply leverage to the wire eventually starts to break it.

 

I guess the easy option is to cut it at ground level. but there fencers are not going to thank me for that.

 

I can see various hoes that might work for this, see links. Any recommendations? Do I try and cut the roots above the wire making it easier to pull out or do I try and cut through the wire also. Plus these things looks somewhat sharp and dangerous, are they safe to use? 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harbour-Housewares-Digging-Wooden-Handle/dp/B00GAZ221Y/ref=sr_1_6?crid=355NZ4VXKUR1R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.M7BcWgfC56Cvm5URYZTIqVrpXoQPaodvYcBMvyCChz7l2HNfw0L9C_fXy20b2KpiwddwkTZLTsmYbjrFNlUfAoL-sg7FgWw8MzRjf7OXqHAD2mj1AxgBilgYCo2Mvln-HyCxQYJu6OH69OwDfV2DmzvPnum1e6sTlrPxsS78HdNjdqoKFsgtPv1ixA7ovwBb1MlX412oaCsTnSrTpYQn7R8YQqkW_wvONuWNcPmP481G43SNmPhT5pIyYfoQ2sohHViX5GaYSnhSYADP4kbotloSZy9_DbyXKD0J6ShanKM.U7t3qBa7KUmdm90S8WVxQci6l8XUXREdIlQG-E5o9tg&dib_tag=se&keywords=grub+hoe&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1733153751&sprefix=grub+hoe%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-6

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-85632-Digging-Hoe/dp/B01LWWH7HG/ref=sr_1_9?crid=355NZ4VXKUR1R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.M7BcWgfC56Cvm5URYZTIqVrpXoQPaodvYcBMvyCChz7l2HNfw0L9C_fXy20b2KpiwddwkTZLTsmYbjrFNlUfAoL-sg7FgWw8MzRjf7OXqHAD2mj1AxgBilgYCo2Mvln-HyCxQYJu6OH69OwDfV2DmzvPnum1e6sTlrPxsS78HdNjdqoKFsgtPv1ixA7ovwBb1MlX412oaCsTnSrTpYQn7R8YQqkW_wvONuWNcPmP481G43SNmPhT5pIyYfoQ2sohHViX5GaYSnhSYADP4kbotloSZy9_DbyXKD0J6ShanKM.U7t3qBa7KUmdm90S8WVxQci6l8XUXREdIlQG-E5o9tg&dib_tag=se&keywords=grub+hoe&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1733153751&sprefix=grub+hoe%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-9

 

 

 

[Russell griffiths]

Tell the fencers what is there and you suggest they bring a petrol disc cutter

they can plunge it 75mm deep in the ground and cut through the wire as one of them applies a bit of tension to it. 

[Onoff]

Think yourself lucky. I've a concrete slab and footings to shift. It has grano chip concrete with chain link fencing as the reinforcing. 

[Russell griffiths]

3 hours ago, Onoff said:

Think yourself lucky. I've a concrete slab and footings to shift. It has grano chip concrete with chain link fencing as the reinforcing. 

Hire a floor cutter and cut it into 600x600 squares. 

[Roundtuit]

Mini-digger to scrat it out, or just leave it in and work round it.  I've done a bit of both; less disruptive to leave it in to rust away if you can.

[saveasteading]

13 minutes ago, Roundtuit said:

just leave it in and work round it. 

Wouldn't a sharp post with thumper go through it? Or maybe a small cut is required first.

[Roundtuit]

10 hours ago, saveasteading said:

Wouldn't a sharp post with thumper go through it? Or maybe a small cut is required first.

Probably.  Depending on gauge and condition, you can get through it with a spade and some determination!

[AliG]

12 hours ago, Roundtuit said:

Mini-digger to scrat it out, or just leave it in and work round it.  I've done a bit of both; less disruptive to leave it in to rust away if you can.

This would be the easiest but seems a bit much for some chicken wire

 

There is about 30m of the stuff. It was there when we bought the house we knocked down, so I am guessing it has been in at least 15 years and shows absolutely no sign of rusting.

 

I suspect the fencers just dig through it, I just thought this was a good opportunity to get rid of it.

 

The problem is the amount of stuff that has grown through it, it is tougher than the wire.

 

I think I might give the hoe a chance and see if I can scrape the stuff off the top of it so it lifts up. A sharp spade might also work, I don't have one to give it a try.

 

 

[saveasteading]

14 minutes ago, AliG said:

A sharp spade might also work

I have recently used a fencer's spade for the first time. tapered to a smallish end, very heavy. I want one. 

I feel that will go through the wire with ease. Your fencers will have one.

I think some  are too lightweight.