I recently bought a house in central Illinois and have been putting a lot of effort into landscaping my yard. However, I'm frustrated by an invasion of wild raspberries growing in the rock beds around my house. I cut them down to ground level last summer but didn't dig out the roots, thinking they'd die off. Unfortunately, they've returned each time I've trimmed them back. Today, I tried to dig some out, but it was a nightmare because of the rocks and the previous owner's weed barrier. The plants have huge runners spreading everywhere. I'm looking for advice on how to effectively kill these wild raspberries or if just trimming them back will eventually work. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
If these wild raspberries are similar to blackberries, you can try spraying the stumps with a specialized herbicide designed for woody stems. This can help tackle them without having to dig out every root! Just keep an eye on them since they can be pretty resilient.
It sounds like you’re dealing with wild black raspberries! A good strategy is to cut the canes down at ground level and then paint the fresh cuts with a brush killer within an hour. Make sure to get rid of that landscape fabric too; it complicates things. You'll likely need to repeat this process over the years as any dormant seeds can sprout back up. I use a 1” paintbrush from the dollar store for this, and honestly, the process isn't all wasted time—it's a good moment for some reflection while you work!
Why not just eat the berries? They could be a tasty treat! But I get it, if they’re crowding your foundation, that’s a problem. Plus, under a deck doesn't sound ideal either. If more readers have other ideas, let’s hear them!
I get where you're coming from, but I want to keep my garden organized and not have these berries invade other areas. They’re too close to the house. If anyone has other helpful strategies, please share!