DO NOT remove the asbestos yourself. DO NOT attempt to get it wet and remove it, and do not try anything else. It is not worth the risk. Any exposure to asbestos can be dangerous.

I would do two things in your case…
1. Contact an asbestos abatement professional to remove the asbestos. Here is the link to the EPA regional coordinator list.
I would call (or even better, email to have a record) them to ask for a referral to local asbestos abatement (that means removal) professionals. However, be sure to tell them that you want a referral to a company that has been show to follow the abatement laws 100%! The reason I say this is because many of these companies have been shown to NOT follow the laws and regulation putting themselves (they have not been trained properly) and the home owner and residents at risk.

2. Contact an attorney and use your free consultant to determine if the previous owner has any liability. At the very least, maybe you can sue them to have the clean-up paid for. I have a partial list of attorney’s by state on my website listed below.

Best of luck!

Did they KNOW asbestos was behind the bushes?
I mean, idk about you, but i don’t look behind my bushes everyday.
They can’t be held liable if they didn’t know it was back there.

Removing the stuff isn’t a big deal if done properly. Problem is deposing of it, you can’t simply put asbestos in the garbage in many areas.
You could end up looking like the bad guy here.

I would consult a lawyer because if done right hiring a contractor to remove the stuff will be expensive.

You might be able to get compensation either from the previous owner or the contractor who did the work.

Get it wet, put it in a sealed plastic bag, through it in your garbage.