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.

 

 

[AliG]

I bought this shoveI. It has been excellent for £21. The serrated edge is very good at cutting through things.

 

Have spent three hours so far digging and pulling.

 

The best thing to do seems to be to dig along just past where you think the chicken wire is buried, then you can pull it up like a roll of turf.

 

The problem is places where roots have grown through it, sometimes up to 2cm thick and in one place where someone wrapped it around a large tree and the tree has grown into it, I just had to cut it there. They also just dumped unused chicken wire on the ground to grow into the undergrowth. Idiots.

 

As you pull the chicken wire back you occasionally have to stop and run the shovel under it to break up roots.

 

It has been back breaking work, I have had to put my not inconsiderable weight behind pulling it out. A woman stopped and cautioned me that her dad did in his back doing something similar.

 

My recommendation would be that you should use chicken wire sparingly.

 

I have also been able to perform an archeological study on the eating habits of builders and school children. They appear to really like McCoy's crisps.

[saveasteading]

2 hours ago, AliG said:

archeological study on the eating habits of builders and school children

That sounds like the introduction. I trust the detailed study will be published on here. Flavours, pack sizes, and any trends through time.

[SteamyTea]

17 hours ago, AliG said:

crisps

 

15 hours ago, saveasteading said:

detailed study will be published

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crunch-Ode-Crisps-Natalie-Whittle/dp/0571384102

[joe90]

She is the ultimate stocking filler. 👀

 

 

[G and J]

On 20/12/2024 at 13:02, AliG said:

I bought this shoveI. It has been excellent for £21. The serrated edge is very good at cutting through things.

 

Have spent three hours so far digging and pulling.

 

The best thing to do seems to be to dig along just past where you think the chicken wire is buried, then you can pull it up like a roll of turf.

 

The problem is places where roots have grown through it, sometimes up to 2cm thick and in one place where someone wrapped it around a large tree and the tree has grown into it, I just had to cut it there. They also just dumped unused chicken wire on the ground to grow into the undergrowth. Idiots.

 

As you pull the chicken wire back you occasionally have to stop and run the shovel under it to break up roots.

 

It has been back breaking work, I have had to put my not inconsiderable weight behind pulling it out. A woman stopped and cautioned me that her dad did in his back doing something similar.

 

My recommendation would be that you should use chicken wire sparingly.

 

I have also been able to perform an archeological study on the eating habits of builders and school children. They appear to really like McCoy's crisps.

Sorry!  Bit late to this party.  I could not recommend a mattock highly enough.   Unbelievably effective. 
 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0893G1PP5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1