Removing Yucca (Yucca filamentosa) Near Buried Wiring

The "yuckas" are almost certainly Adam's needle, Yucca filamentosa (hardy to zone 4) if you're in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic, or a tropical yucca in warmer zones. They form clumps of sword-like leaves with tall (6+ ft) white flower spikes in late spring.

Removal options:

1. Glyphosate (Roundup): Spray foliage thoroughly on a calm day. May take 2–3 applications spaced 2 weeks apart. Cut back dead foliage after it yellows.
2. Digging: Roots are shallow but fibrous. First, locate and mark the lighting wires (call 811 if unsure). Carefully excavate by hand around wires. Remove entire root crowns.
3. Combination: Cut foliage to ground, immediately paint cut stems with concentrated glyphosate. Dig out crowns after 2 weeks.

Note: Yucca is a handsome, drought-tolerant evergreen. If you can contain it (remove offsets annually), it adds architectural interest.