digging up a 4 year old, huuuge shrub - how?

[peegeeweegee]

Any tips before I break my back and kill the shrub.

Have no idea what type of shrub it is, but it is evergreen and very bushy. It is about 4 years old, about 7ft tall and about 10ft circumference.
I love it, but not its location - right in the middle of the garden.

I want to dig it up and reposition it near the fence to block out the view of nosy neighbour. Can this be done?

I have no way of getting a digger or anything like that into my garden so need to do it manually.
Would you recommend I prune it first to make it a more manageable size?

Sorry, I appreciate you would be able to give me a better idea if I told you what shrub it was, but am a complete garden novice (but willing to learn and just starting to rearrange my garden so I can grow veggies with the kids), and any advice will be very welcome.

TIA

[yummybunnymummy]

Hi,
Its obviously very fast growing but I'm afraid unless we have a better idea of what it is we could give you some awful advice. Does it ever flower, if so can you describe them?

Depending on what it is you may be able to prune (and hack) it right back which would make moving it cosiderably easier. Having said that, if the root ball is damaged whilst digging and moving it may well be a pointless exercise.
Some species are easier and more tolerant than others to being disturbed.

As you want to rearrange the garden anyway, it sounds like one way or the other the shrub is going to have to move and take its chance anyway. If diaster strikes and it doesn't work there are other shrubs that are quick growing which will give you a bit more privacy from your neighbours.

[peegeeweegee]

Hi, sorry to be so vague. It does flower, some sort of yellowy clusters of loads of tiny flowers. The leaves of the shrub are a very dark green.

I think it will have to take its chance. Will prune / hack it to make it more manageable and have a go.

Thanks.

[yummybunnymummy]

hi,the following web site has a easy plant finder search engine, use the advanced one.

www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/index.shtml

I was wondering if its a Sweet Bay (Laurus noblis) but I didn't think they grew that quickly. Or maybe a yellow jasmine (Jasminum humile)? If you fill out the details into the search engine you'll see the pictures.

If it is Sweet Bay they are usually cut and trained and may take some abuse if you prune it back to move it.

I still don't envy your task, but its always worth a go!

[peegeeweegee]

Lol at Califrau - send him over here to dig this one please!!

Thanks for all who responded to this. Have decided to leave mystery shrub in situ (though it is my mission to find out what it is) and re-route garden path to go around it!