How to remove throny bushes next to wooden deck?

[Sarahhj08]

I have some flower bushes that shoot up thorny offshoots on my lawn (where children play). I would love to remove the bushes, but they were planted right next to my wooden deck (by the previous owners) and I am worried that removing them will damage the deck.

The back yard is not accessible to a car so they can't be pulled up with a chain/rope. I've heard of something called wood rot-but don't want to use that next to a wooden deck.

Does anyone have any suggestions for removal? I don't know how deep or horizontal the roots go.
Thank you.

[Trixie2]

I suggest you poison the plant. The most effective way being to spray the leaves as they develop. However this could be a problem for you as the bush would have to be allowed to grow to this stage.
Perhaps a better option would be to cut the bush and its offshoots, down to ground level. This will not kill the plant immediately. However, over a period of time, if you continue to cut it at ground level as it tries to grow, it will die. Also by using this method, you will not have a thorn problem.
Best of luck.

[ethandron]

i'd set about it with a pair of secateurs in the first instance and gradually chop it right back as far as you can go so you know what you're working with. then decide what to do to get rid of what's left, it may not be as big/bad as you think.

[kujawski]

a bazooka

[Sarahhj08]

Thank you for your answers. We cut and pried up all that we could and hopefully that will be the end of it. If not, we'll try again.