Permanently remove blackberries from the property

Permanently remove blackberries from the property

Fight blackberries on slopes and between bushes

The problem of overgrowth with blackberries rarely occurs in straight open spaces in the garden. Since the blackberry tendrils are cut off close to the ground during regular mowing with the lawnmower, the blackberry plants prevent any noteworthy energy consumption from being eradicated in the medium term on mown meadows. It is not that easy with slopes and shrubbery areas in a garden. Often blackberry tendrils are either brought in with soil or grow from a nearby forest edge into the property. Here you need a special brushcutter for mechanical shredding.

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Removing it permanently takes patience and effort

Once wild blackberries have really gained a foothold on a property, removal is not an easy and quick affair. Since the blackberries sprout again and again after the tendrils have been removed from the root network in the soil, even chemical herbicides against blackberries have only limited effect. In a first step, the blackberry tendrils should be torn out and cut regularly in order to remove substance from the plant during photosynthesis. The removed tendrils must not be composted in another garden spot, as blackberries can not only be propagated via cuttings, but also develop new blackberry roots on sinks. Otherwise, the removed shoots could put new roots in a shady place.

Take action against the blackberries with tools and diligence

The first thing you will need to tackle wild blackberries is the following:

  • protective clothing against thorn injuries
  • Gloves
  • Pickaxe
  • sharpened spade
  • possibly chopper (397.62 € at Amazon *) to get rid of the removed tendrils

Follow a blackberry tendril to the ground where it is located and loosen the soil here before you pull the blackberry roots out as deep as possible with as strong a jerk as possible. If a vegetable or flower bed is to be created in the same place later, this deep digging not only creates a permanent fight against the wild blackberries, but also creates a loose and deep subsoil for the new planting.

Alternative methods for blackberry eradication

If the physical exertion of digging up the blackberry roots appears to be too expensive, with a little patience you can also 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 ground where you first cut off the tendrils near the ground. Then cover the film with gravel or bark mulch, as desired, until the blackberry roots have died after about one to two years.

Tips & Tricks

Wild blackberries also grow in partial shade, but they need a certain amount of sunlight. With dense shrub growth and trees, you can deprive blackberries of their livelihood in the long term through the accompanying shade.