help....blackberries are taking over.....

clair2305

Dear All

myself and my husband, well let's be honest, just me, have been having a constant battle with blackberry/thorn bushes. My husband moved into the property almost 7 years ago and both the front and back gardens were in a mess....everything in there, rubbish, old chairs, coal skuttels, an old dilapidated shed we are still arguing with the housing about (asbestos).

everything that has been planted in there seemed to have been done so randomly, flowers, rhubarb, strawberries, etc.

Removed the strawberries and rhubarb and then set about the blackberries, which although I do love them, they were taking over, so have tried various attempts to kills them.

Last year got some super-douper weed killer which seemed to do the trick, but in the garden at the weekend (why I bother when it upsets me so much I don't know) and I can notice the little sproutings appearing, they also seem to be appearing at the side and front of the house....maybe they are taking over!!!???

I'm not so bothered about the front, as when the drive is done it will all go, but I want a nice back garden.

I've hear various things about how to get rid of blackberries, someone told me to lay carpet (and someone gave me loads of carpets tiles to lay) but hubby said no, said not only would it not work, it would look stupid (no worse than it looks now!!! - should have just done it, he never goes out there anyway!!!)

The garden is generally in need of an overhaul, it's bumpy, like I say plants all over the place but in no apparent order and blackberry/thorn bushes appearing all over.

A friend has suggested that I hire a rotavator and basically start from scratch, churn it up, level it and lay grass seeds - I'm a bit worried about this as I've never used one before, never had a garden before I moved in 2 years ago and don't think I'll get much help from DH and DS. And if I use a rotavator, do I have to the pick out the blackberry/thorn bushes/roots?

I'm sure if I look at the pictures my hubby took when he moved in, there is an improvement, but I'm starting to forget those pictures.....

I'd be really grateful for any advice anyone can offer (even if it's a lighted match!!!)

Thanks

tanith

I would imagine that you would have to then pick and dig up any more blackberry roots... what a pain... I think whatever method you use will be damn hard work.. I am sure someone will come up with an easier method you can use.. sorry not much help...

Davesnave

Don't rotavate blackberries, you'll just make it worse. If the ground is really compacted a rotavator won't do the job anyway, as my neighbour found out recently (but it still cost her £40 to hire.)

Really, the best way to deal with blackberries is to dig them, but that's serious, heavy work. The hit the resprouts (because there will be some) with strong glyphosate. This is not a job for just one of you and, frankly, if my OH wouldn't help me in the garden, I'd be looking for ways to bring a bit of pressure to bear!

It's not for me to tell you how to run your relationship, but I've always considered the family home a joint effort, which is a pain when I'm asked to do the 'orrible jobs indoors, but it cuts both ways.

clair2305

Davesnave, where can I buy glyphosate? And what do you think of my covering them with carpet idea?

Don't worry about OH, think I have found a helper in DS and to be honest everytime OH goes in garden, he ends up injuring himself....last time a "flea dart" in the eye and because of his hayfever and asthma, it only ends up in wheezing and tears, so the inside is his responsibility, ha ha

Zazen999

Any garden centre/diy shack with garden section...it's also called Roundup but can be cheaper if you don't buy the brand.

clair2305

Zaren999, thanks for this...think I've already tried roundup, as well as weedol and others, but will check the shed for what I've got.

The best one I did use was one my mother gave me, had a strange name think possibly had a word either Chlor or sulph, will know it when I see it....but alas, although it killed them for the season, there's a little sprout appearing.

So I'm possibly looking for another solution or super super douper killer....last resorts a match?!?!?

quickstepqueen

We have these growing across our boundary and they are a pain, well it's the thorns more than anything that I hate. (Good burglary deterrent though!). The roots origniate from next door so we cut back our side as best as we can but they never seem to stop invading. There's only so much fruit you can eat so I really do sympathise with you. They're tough work.

clair2305

quickstepqueen, thanks for this. I think ours orginate for the garden over the back to us (well that's what our nosy next door neighbour said) and as the property we live in was empty for some time following the death of the elderly tenant, it was perfect opportunity for them to be "pushed" over to ours and the housing association did nothing to even tidy the garden before my OH moved in, to be honest it was disgusting how the garden was left, rubbish, etc as I said in my post.

I'd love a cultivated bush, but do not have enough concrete in the garden....so let's hope we both find a solution on this board (fingers crossed)

RAS

Clair

Two things (or three)

1. If you want to dispose of well-established blackberry canes, you need to cut them below ground level - if you leave the node (junction of root and stem) in tact, they will re-sprout, as you have found. Glysophate may work but it becomes inert when in contsct with soil, so if the node is below ground level, it may not work.

You do not need to get the whole root out, just that node.

2. If you have large bushes in an adjecent garden, they will re-grow each year and the ends of the canes will root in your garden if they touch the ground, so you need to be vigilant in the late autumn. it is easier to snip of the end of a trailing cane then than dig up a rooted cane next spring. By summer the new cane will be 6-15 foot long.

3. If these canes are fruiting and not being picked, they will be seeding all over the place, so you need to keep weedig the samll seedlings out.

However, a few canes woven along the top of your fecne make great live barded wire.

So get some good gardening gloves or builders ones and lift each node, then use secuteurs to cut the node away from the roots.

if you use a rotivator, you may find it snags on the roots and you will still have to pull all the nodes out or they will re-grow.

Davesnave

Davesnave, where can I buy glyphosate? And what do you think of my covering them with carpet idea?

That one's already been answered. I use B&Qs own brand. But glyphosate only works through the leaves which must remain intact while its absorbed - it works by messing-up the plant's ability to make food, so it is relatively slow.

Carpet works, but it takes a very long time for weeds like brambles, and tiles would be a nightmare because of the gaps.

What your Mum gave you was probably sodium chlorate, which is the kind of weedkiller that poisons by toxins. It is fast & effective, but may not kill on one application and the soil can't be replanted for some time.

RAS's post above is v interesting,

TheDink

You could try painting some brushwood killer onto the leaves of the brambles you want to remove.

http://www.vitax.co.uk/productshome.asp?product=HWC001