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blackberries blackberries everywhere

sanjy67sanjy67 Posts: 1,007
in Problem solving

my friend moved to a flat with a garden (completely over run with blackberries) the council promised to sort it out if she exchanged her house for it but they have done nothing about it seriously apart from cutting it down before she moved in, not very helpful

we spent the day trying to dig them out taking care to pick up all the pieces but the roots are a huge and great big stumps & over the winter they have all grown back again. The neighbour says she has lived there 11 years and it has always been like it !

the garden is approx. 18ft x 18ft there are no other plants apart from a rose bush on the corner that doesn't need to be saved.

Is there anything that can be used that will kill them without poisoning the soil for years?

 

Posts

  • sanjy67sanjy67 Posts: 1,007

    tetley we did get a lot of the stumps out but as you know once established they are huge and we just couldn't get them all out despite putting our backs into it, what is the best way to get them out, we had forks but such a mission, the neighbours garden has been infected by a few from my friends garden via underground roots as they are open gardens, i will tell her to google the glysophate, thank you

    pansyface thank you i shall pass on the brushwood killer as i haven't even heard of that and see what it says on the info

  • sanjy67sanjy67 Posts: 1,007

    we're in east sussex and need a 'george' but in the meantime i shall seek out a stump grinder image

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    Digging out is the best and most satisfying method. Burn the roots. The growth that comes through from the minor roots that are left behind will be weak and easy to remove.



    I don't think a stump grinder is the right way to go; they aren't that kind of roots.
  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    I think stump grinder's are just go trees unless they're that thick, I would also put a barrier in between the next door's and your friend in the ground so they don't come through again. I agree with the others and use a fork and spade it will take time but very rewarding.
  • Zoomer44Zoomer44 Posts: 3,267

    Using a spade rather than a fork for digging out the crown is easier. You'll find the spade cuts through some of the roots making it easier to lever out the crown.

    If you can dig out the main crown of the brambles the battles nearly won. Any regrowth from roots left in the ground, if caught whilst they are a few inches high can easily be dug out with a small hand trowel.

  • AWBAWB Posts: 421

    A matock is the best tool to remove the roots. Make sure it's sharp, 1 good swing and there out. 

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