The removal of blackberries is usually only a problem with wild blackberry varieties. Since modern breeds of blackberries are not as prolific as their wild relatives, simply digging up the rootstock is usually enough to remove them.

Control blackberries on slopes and between shrubs

On straight open spaces in the garden, the problem of sprawling blackberry growth actually hardly ever occurs. Since regular mowing with the lawn mower cuts off the blackberry tendrils close to the ground, the blackberry plants on mowed meadows are prevented from absorbing any significant energy in the medium term, eradicating them in the medium term. It's not that easy with slopes and shrubbery in a garden. Blackberry tendrils are often either brought in with soil or grow from a nearby forest edge into the property. Here you need a special brushcutter for mechanical destruction.

Permanent removal requires patience and effort

Once wild blackberries have taken root on a property, removal is not an easy or quick matter. Since the blackberries continue to sprout again even after the tendrils have been removed from the root system in the soil, even chemical pesticides against blackberries only have a limited effect. In a first step, the blackberry tendrils should be regularly torn out and cut to remove substance from the plant during photosynthesis. However, the removed tendrils must not be composted in another part of the garden under any circumstances, since blackberries can not only be propagated via cuttings, but also form new blackberry roots on sinkers. The removed shoots could otherwise strike new roots in a shady place.

Take action against the blackberries with tools and diligence

To fight wild blackberries you first need the following equipment:

  • protective clothing against thorn injuries
  • gloves
  • pickaxe
  • sharpened spade
  • possibly shredder (199.99€) to get rid of the removed tendrils

Follow each blackberry tendril at its location down to the ground and loosen the soil here before you tear the blackberry roots out as deeply as possible with as strong a tug as possible. If a vegetable or flower bed is later to be planted in the same place, this deep digging not only creates a permanent fight against the wild blackberries, but also a loose and deep substrate for the new planting.

Alternative methods for blackberry eradication

If you find the physical exertion of digging up the blackberry roots too much, you can, with a little patience, find alternative ways of destroying the thorny tendrils. Obtain a continuous piece of pond liner the size of the location in question and place it on the bottom where you first cut the tendrils near the bottom. Then cover the foil with gravel or bark mulch, as desired, until the blackberry roots have died off after about one to two years.

tips and tricks

Wild blackberries also grow in semi-shade, but they need a certain amount of sunlight. With dense shrubs and trees, you can deprive blackberries of their livelihood in the long term due to the associated shading.

Category:

Vegetable garden