Brambles are a common nuisance in many gardens With their sharp thorns and fast-spreading growth habit, these invasive plants can quickly take over cultivated beds and borders Getting rid of brambles takes some persistence, but with the right techniques, you can eradicate them for good.
What Are Brambles?
Brambles are in the genus Rubus and include plants like blackberries and raspberries. They produce arching stems called canes that root at the tips when they touch the ground, allowing the plants to spread rapidly. Brambles also have extensive root systems that allow them to regenerate after being cut back. Their sharp thorns help deter animals from browsing on them further aiding their spread.
While brambles do produce edible berries, when left uncontrolled, they become weedy pests. Their dense growth shades out desirable plants and their thorns make them difficult to work around. Controlling brambles should be a priority in order to reclaim garden space.
How Brambles Spread
Brambles spread in a couple of different ways:
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Underground roots – Even if you cut the canes back, the roots will generate new growth. Brambles have roots that can extend 10 feet or more underground.
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Tip rooting – When the bramble canes arch over and touch the ground, they will root at the tip and form a new plant. Just one cane can quickly become a large thicket.
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Seeds – Brambles produce copious amounts of berries. The seeds inside will readily sprout to form new plants wherever they fall. Birds also ingest the berries and spread the seeds to new areas.
How to Remove Established Brambles
To successfully get rid of brambles, you need to attack both the above-ground and below-ground parts of the plant. Follow these steps:
Cut the Canes
The first step is to cut all the bramble canes back to about 1 foot above the ground. Use loppers, pruners, or a brush cutter for this task. Wear protective clothing to avoid the thorns. Cutting the canes eliminates the food source to the roots, stimulating new growth that will be easier to treat.
Apply Herbicide
Once the canes are cut back, apply a systemic herbicide containing glyphosate or triclopyr to the fresh cuts and any regrowth. Systemic herbicides translocate down through the plant to kill the roots. Follow the product directions closely. It may take several applications over one or two growing seasons to fully kill the bramble patch. Avoid getting herbicide on desired plants.
Dig Out Roots
After the brambles are dead, the roots need to be fully excavated to prevent regrowth. Use a mattock or shovel to dig down at least 18 inches and remove all the roots you encounter. Search the soil for any remaining root fragments and discard them.
Monitor and Repeat
Persistence is key when removing brambles. Monitor the area and repeat the cutting and herbicide treatments on any regrowth. Dig out any new roots. It may take several years of diligence before the bramble infestation is completely eradicated.
Removing Young Brambles
Catching brambles when they are still young makes removal easier. Here’s how to get rid of new bramble plants:
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Pull small seedlings by hand when the soil is moist.
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For larger plants, use a dandelion digger tool to remove the entire root system.
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Cut the canes and paint full strength glyphosate or triclopyr onto the cut stem. This will kill the plant.
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Monitor the area for any regrowth and quickly pull or spot treat new sprouts.
5 Tips for Managing Brambles
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Cut back overhanging canes from neighboring properties to avoid spread into your yard.
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Put up a barrier of metal flashing, sunk at least 6 inches into the ground, to block underground spread.
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Solarize areas prone to brambles by covering with clear plastic for several months to bake the soil and kill roots.
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Mulch garden beds to block light and discourage seedling establishment.
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Keep on top of control efforts. Neglecting brambles for even one season can lead to a heavy infestation.
While challenging to remove, with persistence and repeated efforts to eliminate both the above and below-ground parts of brambles, you can get rid of and prevent the return of these invasive pests. Use an integrated approach of mechanical removal and herbicide treatments to successfully reclaim your garden from rampant brambles.
Removing a few brambles
As long as you only have a few brambles, it’s easy to cut them back and get rid of the plant’s “crown.” The crown is a swollen, bulbous head that sits just below the soil (see picture). If you remove it, the plant probably won’t grow anymore.
But what do you do if you have big areas of bramble that haven’t been touched in years? How do we get rid of these?
Brambles are natural colonisers
These thorny plants with the tasty fruits are woodland expanders and natural colonisers.
In nature, their job is to spread to the edge of the forest and send out long shoots to make the forest bigger. The plants make the soil rich where they grow; when the leaves fall, they make nutrient-rich mulch, and the fruits attract birds whose nutrient-rich droppings often have other tree seeds in them. Wind-blown seeds like these will grow among the thorns, which will protect the seedlings in their first few years.
Many schools generally have small patches of woodland, or 10-30 year old tree planting areas. When these “copses” aren’t used for years, brambles can use them as a place to do their daily work of naturally growing the forest.
To make the small forest, copse, grove, or thicket better for Forest School (FS) activities, it is best to get rid of some of the brambles and level out the ground. (That said, we have just been working with a school whose FS site vegetation is only brambles!).
How to Clear Brambles!
FAQ
How do you get rid of brambles fast?
Will boiling water kill bramble roots?
How do you kill brambles?
If you prefer to avoid using commercial weed killers and your brambles are small, mix up a household solution to kill the plants. Mix 3 litres (0.79 US gal) of white vinegar, 1 kg (2.2 lb) of salt, and a squeeze of dish soap. Stir the solution and load it into a sprayer. Then soak all the brambles.
How do I get rid of brambles in my garden?
If you want to control brambles on your property, start by cutting the vines down 6 inches (15 cm) above the soil level. Then apply weed killer to the plant. After the plant dies, dig out all the roots to prevent it from growing back. Continually monitor your garden and remove and small sprouts to avoid another bramble infestation.
How do you remove brambles from a hedge?
As brambles root from their arching stem tips, you may have to cut the stems in several different places and reduce them gradually,” says Fiona. Whilst hedge cutters might not make the list of the essential tools every gardener needs, they’re absolutely perfect for this particular job and foliage maintenance in general. 3. Remove the roots
How do you remove brambles?
Subheading: Eliminating Brambles for Good Root Digging: Brambles are known for their robust root systems. Removing roots manually can be labor-intensive, but it’s a critical step to prevent regrowth. Use a sharp spade or shovel to dig out the entire root structure, which may extend quite deep.
How do you kill a bramble plant?
There are a few different methods you can use to kill brambles. The easiest way to remove a bramble plant requires some strong weed killer and a good set of trimmers. You want to cut back all the shoots so they are just a few inches from the ground – you may find a strimmer is more efficient if there is a lot of growth to deal with.
Can brambles be killed?
Brambles are a common fixture throughout the UK. Growing everywhere from people’s gardens to along pathways and roadsides, there are a few areas where these tough perennials don’t grow. Once a bramble appears the plant spreads like wildfire, to the point where it can be almost impossible to kill and get rid of them! What are Brambles?