I recently moved into a new house with a spacious garden that has great potential, but I've discovered an invasion of wild blackberries left by the previous owner. I initially tried cutting them down, but they seem to come back even stronger! I understand that I need to dig out the roots, but I'll wait for the rainy days since it makes the soil easier to work with. Now that the rainy season is here, I'm looking for some effective tips and tricks to completely get rid of these blackberries. I'm new to gardening and could really use some help!
4 Answers
I've been using a weed killer called stump killer. I paint it onto the leaves and stems, let it sit for a few days, then cut it back and apply more to the cuts. It's not foolproof—I'd say about a 50% success rate—but it helps, especially for those tough areas where you can’t dig them out easily.
You really should focus on getting the crown out. You don’t need to dig out the whole root system, just lift it a bit with a fork and snip off the crown with secateurs. That’s the method that’s worked for me—simple and effective!
One technique that worked for me was to keep trimming them back consistently. They do seem to thrive again if you don’t deal with the roots, but persistent cutting can eventually weaken them. Just know that it's a slow process!
Getting a mattock can really make this job a lot easier! It’s great for digging up the crowns, which is where all those annoying new shoots come from. Trust me, having the right tool makes a huge difference!
Absolutely! Just remember that it's all about getting those crowns out. Once you've done that, it becomes much simpler.
I've had the same experience! It feels like they get stronger, but keep at it; eventually, it works.