I’ve tried this in California..it didn’t seem to work but after further research I think if it’s done in the fall when the plant is drawing nutrients back to the roots it will have more effect. Good luck everyone
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'm in WA state, at a dead end street, blackberries bordering the entire length of the property. This is do-able for a senior like me, and eco friendly. Thanks again!
I’m in Washington state as well. The Himalayan blackberries are real killers. Himalayan blackberries at my house, however produce good berries. But the berries don’t ripen all at once so it’s very time consuming to pick them. It’s also hard to tell which berries are ripe. The most efficient method I found for picking the berries I use a giant enamel metal canning pot and put a strap on it so I could wear it. I also wear welding gloves that came with my house.(The house is quite old). I grab the thorny stem with my welding gloves and shake the BlackBerry vine over the giant metal pot. That way only the ripe sweet blackberries fall off into the pot. Himalayan blackberries are originally from Romania. They were developed in their current form by the famous Luther Burbank. He developed them to have a very good taste in to go to have a good crop of berries. I don’t think he had any idea how invasive they would be in the Puget Sound region. I’m going to try this bonite on the blackberries that I don’t want to grow back. A lot of them are going around the stumps of a row of trees I had to have taken out so it is very hard to get to the roots.
This is exellent! -- I even have a hedge trimmer like the one you used. Another thing i learned from some farm neighbors near our property is that if you have old posts or sprinklers that stand tall, the birds who eat the blackberries perch on those and poop out blackberry seeds -- this has caused several clusters of blackberries on our land.
For five years I've been trying to dig out blackberries on my property - I was about to throw in the towel and just do the RoundUp because I can't ever get ahead. I'm going to give this method two years starting today. Thanks.
This is the MOST practical long-term approach I have come across! And I've been researching everywhere for sustainable solutions, without spreading herbicides! Thank you so much for all this info, particularly explaining how your approach has worked in your yard over the past few years. Very valuable to those of us who have battled these tenacious, horrid blackberries for years. 👍🙏🌟 P.S. I'm also going to try injecting -- with a hypodermic needle -- 30% vinegar into some of the cut root areas, to see if that also works [based on a tip from a friend].
I just received this product myself, and I’m committed to giving it a try. These blackberries are so hardy, nasty, and the thorns are terrible. Looking forward to eradicating them, and I can understand it takes a commitment!
Another Washington homeowner here with Himalayan blackberries taking over. At 70, I can't (or just don't want to) dig the roots up like I used to ... using this method, I can do this, as long as I portion off about 25 sq feet at a time and just concentrate on that area. So, your video did prepare me how to effectively attack our very overgrown yard. 1) Portion it out in bits at a time 2) Expedite cutting the vines down via my trusty EGO electric hedge trimmer 3) Get down close and personal and clip each one, getting the new shoots too 4) Daub on the Magic Juice then move on. My first day using this method, didn't produce a large cleared area, but it's a very good feeling knowing that in doing it this way, they won't keep coming back. I actually enjoyed the smell of the earth, so everything considered I'd say today was a huge success. I'll just keep at it until they're done ... It'll likely take a while, but that's Ok! Daubers I'm using to expedite this process: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09QSZT54J?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image
@@vangle8488 Hi, the bad news is that the task was just too overwhelming in my state of health, the wonderful news is that I paid a very hardworking neighbor to cut them and dig up most all the roots. The few that are left, I easily daubed, and we are now blackberry free with a plan to address any newcomers that may pop up. All in all, I'm very pleased with the daubing method and feel confident that this is a great way to deal with Himalayan blackberries. None of the ones that I daubed are coming back. Hope this helps.👍
Yep, this method works! I've been cutting the branches at the base and applying full-strength poison right to the stub for years. It's the only way to clear BB from hedgerows and other areas that can't be sprayed. It's work, but worth the effort. Thanks for the video.
Great video! I am an arborist in Seattle and I'm helping one of my friends with hillside restoration. We are trying to plant some native trees to help hold the hillside while selectively removing blackberry. This is a long term goal since we can't remove everything all at once. This method would be extremely helpful so we don't dig and disturb the integrity of the soil while we let tree roots grow. I really appreciate the time you took to explain the process (beautiful property by the way). Thanks for uploading this video!
Thank you so much! We will have spent so much money alone dumping these blackberry briars at the transfer station! I have spent money and time and spraying nasty herbicides for years working on our 5 acres. You made my week!!!!!
At first I was really worried you were using an herbicide that would damage the environment. But the specific way you use it is perfect for killing the blackberry vine yet preserving the health of the soil, water and the surrounding plants. Thank you!!!
Exactly Alida! Most people spray herbicide all over the area, killing all the native plants, polluting the land and water, and not actually getting rid of the blackberry. This is the best method I've found that actually works. Please subscribe to my channel if you liked this: ua-cam.com/channels/ooE0MLZbm085K8mG_JqzCQ.html
Hard job killing bamboo, I was desprate so I kept putting fires on top of roots after trimming top shoots growth, this after three or four fires killed it and trailing root creepers.
I used my hedge clippers on my blackberries last year, started out with the chainsaw, but it wasn't working on them, so took the brand new hedge clippers and it cut like butter! Now I need to get this stuff to keep them away. I will get some knee pads and crawl around and apply this stuff to what will be left of my blackberries when I do this again. I love the rose garden gloves, thank you. Will have to look for them too!
@@TakeTheRide I haven't gotten them out yet, they keep coming back. I wish I had gotten them out when there were two strands of them back 20 years ago. Yes, they are taking friggen over and so is the wisteria. I hate them!
@@dlwcrazyblondeoneSame with the blackberry, it was fun for the kids when they were little and they would eat them, but not 20 years later. I have wisteria, I thought I got them all, but my thought too, I can use this on the vines that keep coming up in my garden. I love them, but they literally tore down my overhead trellis over the years
Definitely going to try this with my creekside property. Hard to keep down without pulling them out of the creekside but I want them out of my garden (we are working towards no till, natural, organic), and don't want it to affect the future plants or the water (we are on a well, as well, so maintaining the grounds as organic as possible is the goal). Thank you!!
Awesome advise. Out here in Rural Oregon, and the invasive blackberries are endemic. So is english ivy, kudzu and scotch broom. All of these I suspect could be eradicated with this method. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, I'd think it could work on all of them. However ivy is it's own special kind of insanity because it puts down so many roots along its runners. But I'd be curious to see how it goes. Thank you!
In suburban Oregon & they COMPLETELY invaded my backyard while was in Washington for 3yrs. My son cut them down & wanted to rototill the entire yard for a few weeks- not feasible! This is something that could work without too much work & not poison the environment so I'm all for it! THANK YOU ❤
This is excellent, thanks! I'm in WA state and we have a lot of these, but I don't like to spray chemicals. This method is perfect for our needs. Thank you...
Thanks so much for sharing!! I have been fighting off blackberry briars in northwest Florida for the last couple of years that seemingly started out of nowhere, but made the grave mistake of trying industrial vinegar which, as you probably know, killed all the surrounding vegetation so the briars could come back even bigger and stronger. Watching your method gives me hope. 🙏
That's very encouraging that you've had such good results with the bonide stump killer. I was reading reviews on Amazon and a lot of them were very negative (saying that it didn't work). I bought crossbow, thinking that I might spray it in the fall to help take some of the chemicals down to the root (I've been just cutting back/digging for 2 years without any good results). But this seems a lot easier to handle -- you don't have to suit up in a spacesuit and worry about hurting off-target plants. I wonder if this would work on bamboo?
Thank you! Blackberries are tasty but I call it the cockroach of plants, lol. I am a new home-owner with a yard and it is a marvel to see the tenacity of these suckers! I am grateful for your insight and video!
Found you with this video and then realized very quickly how much other amazing work you do! Thank you for this. I didn't want to wait for the green to come in before starting our HBB removal... but now, I'm wondering if we should wait for the new shoots to come up more. Thank you so much, about to buy this stump and vine killer now!
Thanks Shalena! I love nature! For us we like to do the removal early in the season since the only place we still have it is where it's intermeshed with a bunch of native plants, so once those leaf out it's hard to see the BB. But if you have only the BB, waiting a little longer can help you see the new "babies" easier. Thanks for subscribing and following my work!
Thank you thank you! I have a huge backyard of blackberries overgrowth in the house I just bought and have been trying to figure out how to handle it safely. This is perfect! I’ve already hacked at the overgrowth (it took me 6 hours-your trimmer looks like a dream!) I do have one question though: I plan to level the yard in a few week-is it safe to use the stump killer now, if some of these stumps may be be uprooted in the leveling process? Or should I wait until after the leveling process, but risk losing the visibility of the stumps? I so appreciate your help.
I had chemicals to kill these things. My yard was waaaay worst to do this method. It's been 3 yrs and they've barely cam back. (Due because I have the other half left still) plants are starting to grow on their own again. But I'm still clearing land and still in the process of planning on designing my garden and replanting trees I'm doing the whole yard!
Thank you for this explanation & how to video. You got great camera angles of everything. So I'd know what to look for. Out near Ocean Shores, WA. Blackberries and salmon berries are everywhere. Keeping the majority of the salmon berries and a contained area for blackberries ( as I like to make jam every year). Very helpful. 🥰💙💚💜🌿
Thanks! We have a ton of these blackberry brambles that have gone wild this year with all the rain! I am ordering the gloves (didn't even know there was such a thing as rose gloves) and stump killer from Amazon today. I do have a hedge trimmer and am ready to clear the jungle. Thanks for the info, I didn't want to use a herbacide and you gave me a great alternative.
Thanks for this systematic method. We have been battling blackberry vines in our yard in south Snohomish County. They come back like a forest out of our garden beds filled with compost. The method you use with dabbing that stump remover is like what my dad did many years ago. I couldn't remember what he used. Can you tell me how long it takes for the brambles to finish dying after putting that stump remover on them? Do the roots rot underground? I am trying to figure how long it will take to be able to do something with the space. Thank you so much!
You will cut all the brambles away, and the roots should rot and not grow back. Sometimes you'll get a little grow-back, but not nearly as much. You'll just hit those again. Since there will be a small amount of the stump killer in the ground, I wouldn't eat anything you grow in this space for 2-3 years. So you could grow ornamentals or perennial food like fruit trees or bushes, and just wait to eat it's fruit - which usually take several years to produce anyway.
How long until you could plant in those areas? This video just gave me so much hope. I’ve done 12 hours of blackberry removal with just hand clippers and two months later there are all these new shoots. I am getting the bonide and hedge trimmer today!
@@olliephelan The beauty of this technique is that it just kills the roots of the plant you treat. That said, I wouldn't eat any fruit from plants that have roots that are enmeshed with the treated roots.
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery They are in hedges where is almost impossible to find the root or stem. (those box hedges ; too dense to get much access ) digging will be impossible for most of it. I was thinking of dabbing Round-Up onto freshly cut branches with a Q-tip, in the same way as in the vid. But at best it will just restrict them slightly, because I wont be able to get many close to the ground. I watched a box hedge around the corner being fully taken over and displaced by briar /blackberry. None of the original bush is there.
I just learned I can make Biochar from the vines I've cut. I have been building raised beds on top of dead vines cut up. It's kind of a Zen thing. I cut and then dig out the corm. The vines disappear into a pulverized dust.
Hawaii homeowner battling Himalayan golden raspberry! I was using an echo weed wacker with rhino tuff blades. Making progress but damn your method just might be the very best!!
I cut a lot of these over the winter and am now clearing out a pretty large section by hand. Most of them are 12 ft tall/long and I’m on my 4th truckload. A lot of them are so dead and dry that they just break off so I have to go back when I’m done and take a crap ton up. But I’m going to have to go back to all the “stumps” I left, the ones I couldn’t pull up, and put some of this on it cause the roots are crazy long and definitely have vibes underground everywhere.
I notice that the description of this product specifies a brush applicator, as well as on Bonide's site, instead of the dauber type that you used in your video. Do you think the brush was an improvement? Do you have to apply it right away after cutting? I began cutting them down a few weeks ago. Also, other products with this active ingredient seem to be available for less money. This seems to be very expensive for only 1 cup of product. Thank you for sharing this.
I prefer the dauber to the brush so I have an old bottle that I keep refilling. If you've already cut them, just recut a little lower and then hit it with the product. Buy in bulk and save!
@@thepeterjamesstudios I like the dauber concept too. I'll try the brush but am thinking of using a very small foam paint brush. There are also daubers sold elsewhere. Good idea about cutting lower. I still have much more to do so will be using your method to finish. How do you deal with newly sprouted leaves? Paint the leaves or cut and daub? Bulk, meaning multiple bottles? Love your photographs...BEAUTIFUL!
Thanks heaps for this. I can't believe how quickly they grow back. It's the thorns that just annoy the pants out of me. I wonder if we have a similar product in Australia. Cheers.
Gordon's Brush Killer for Large Properties kills blackberry bushes down to the roots. You cut and clear the bushes after they are dead. You don't need to spray the entire property, just direct your spray nozzle onto the blackberry leaves.
I need to do that. My whole back yard is full of blackberries. I haven't used any chemicals because I'm afraid of killing the deer, and other animals, that are always coming into my yard. Do you think it would be safe to use your method? I've been fighting those blackberries for years. It is just out of control. It so bad that I can't even use my yard for anything at all.
Hi Patty! It really should have no negative effect on your wild animals, and it allows the native plants to grow back which helps the wildlife. Take back your yard for you and for our four legged friends!
@@thepeterjamesstudios Thank you so much for answering! I'm definitely going to try it. I've been fighting those black berries for years. It's really annoying to have a whole back yard and not ever being able to ever enjoy it.
Hey there, thanks for the info! Looking forward to trying this soon. Question, how long do you need to let the vine killer set in before it kills the blackberry? I have a garden that I’d love to use this spring/summer but it’s currently overgrown with blackberry. Thank you!
thanks for your great video. I just bought a 3 acre property with serious bramble issues. I have a couple of questions. 1. will this product work on any variety of brambles? and 2. I can't seem to get this product in spain where I live. I can however get Roundup. would that work too if I used it in the same way dabbing it on the root? many thanks
Hi! Yes it works on most plants. I would not use Roundup because that's an entirely different product meant to work a different way. Maybe try to find something with the same active ingredient.
If you only have a few blackberry vines one method I have used is to get a small jar and fill it with Roundup (any vegetation killer actually) and burry it half way in the ground for support. Cut the tip of the vine off and stick in the jar. I use duct tape to secure the vine from popping out. I wait months before removing the jar. The I cut the vine off at the base. If everything else fails give it a shot.
I have a small area around 3 x 3 that I want to get rid of blackberries, I was wondering if I can start doing this now in late August? Temps are around 80 in Virginia. Thanks
Hi, I have a 2 acre property and about 1.5 acres is bordered by blackberries. Do you think this method is doable or Is there another way you’d suggest? Thank you.
Ashlee, Yes this is the only way I've found that works. People that try to cut corners and just spray everything end up making the problem worse since the only thing that grows in toxic soil is weeds and blackberries. Maybe you can do a little each year. Consensus is that fall is the best time to do it if you want to kill them in one go. I do it it the spring because I don't have time in the fall because I'm a nature photographer and I end up having maybe 10% come back so I have to repeat the process for a couple years. Since you have so much area to cover you'll want to be efficient. Best of luck!
What hedge trimmer do you have? Mine gets stuck on big blackberry stems. Also, any non leather gloves recommendations? I’m a vegan. Thank you so much for this video! I’m in WA state and blackberries are killing our woods
Once the dead parts of the plants "decompose" won't the chemicals be absorbed into the soil anyways? Of course it is a lot less but if you were wanting to grow food or something in that area that might not be ideal, right? I love this idea because I battle with Blackberry bushes year after year and my approach is digging up the roots which is a pain.
That's right. There will be some chemical in the soil, but it's a fraction of what you'd have if you spray the whole area, and it will break down over time. If you're doing an area the you want to grow food in right away, the only way is to dig out each and every tiny root. Otherwise do this and wait a couple years. Thanks!
Good tip, thanks for sharing. Unfortunately I have 3 acres of this evasive bush. There’s no way I can individually cut and dab each stem, just not practical. I may try to brush cut with a metal blade weedwacker then carefully spray as best I can.
Does this method work if you can't reach the base of the plant? I have a ton of blackberries buried in the middle of thick bushes that are on a steep hillside and getting to the base is simply impossible.
Im working a steep hill with blackberrys.I use this method they come back but not as thick .I have initially used specific blackberry spray once .and it does make it easier
A tool that might save your back and knees is a brushcutter. It's a little more spendy and specialized but it can be worth it if this is an annual chore
I also have a neighbour who does not take care of their yard at all! Tired of dealing with blackberry will have to try this. Hopefully I can find the product.
HI from Germany. - This product is no effect on the soil and doesn't create any other issues or chemical imbalances, right? - Is it sodium and sulfit, isn't it?
Consider making friends with the dandelions -- they are the first pollen source for the bees. Dandelion greens are very nutritious, and the blooms are also edible. Dandelion Roots can be cut and dry fried, and used to make medicinal tea! A different perspective... FWIW
Two questions: - How do you dispose the cut canes? Won’t they grow back or leave seeds if let in the same spot? - Are there more eco friendly alternatives to the vine and stump killer?
IMO: Blackberry is really hard to get rid of. This is the easiest way I’ve found so far. More eco friendly is digging them all out to the last root, good luck.
I'm new to the PNW, but was talking with my neighbors. We're surrounded by [delicious] blackberry bushes, and they said after they left cuttings in a totally different part of the yard, a new bush sprouted up and they had a new problem in that area. So, I'd be careful to make sure they're disposed of fairly quickly/sent to compost away from your yard.
My fam just burns em, but if you want I have tried cutting em into like 1 foot long sticks and left em in a spot that gets a lot of sun to completely dry out, left em for like a couple weeks or so then composted em. Or if your yard doesn't get a lot of sun, my fam has a rot bin for the weeds that are a real danger to spread like morning glory for instance. And what a rot bin is, is a big bin that can hold water (we just use old water barrels,) but ya just keep a good amount of water in there so stuff just rots and terns into goo. Make sure to have a lid or put some ceder needles in there or something so mosquitoes don't have babies in there.
I like to put the cut canes (ones without berries) in a very hot area during the summer which kills them immediately. You have to be a lot more careful if the temperature is really mild and it's moist and you have a big pile -- that's when they tend to try and re-root. Just give them a ton of sun exposure and make sure they're not buried.
I learned this from Oregon State University’s killing blackberries brochure. The best time to kill blackberries is in late summer/early fall just as the fruit is dying on the vines. This is because the plant starts to pull sugars from the leaves back to the roots to store for the next growing season. This pulls the killer into the root system, killing the entire plant and prevents new shoots from coming out of the root system. Picking a hot day to do this is best since the killer is quickly absorbed into the plant. Either spray the leaves according to the instructions or cut the vines about a foot above the soil and use a wool dauber to coat the ends of the stumped vines with full concentrate. Triclopyr, as is in the killer shown in this video was the best killer to use. The amount needs to be up there in percentage to work. I’ve had great results using Ortho’s version and a Gilmor dial-in hand sprayer with the bottle that holds the concentrate and mixes as you spray using a garden hose hooked up to it. Bonide Brush Killer 8.8% Ortho Max Poison Ivy Tough Brush Killer 8.0%
That's good to know. I certainly prefer daubing to spraying since it doesn't effect the neighboring plants. As for timing, I do it in late winter/early spring because that's when I'm available. Being a professional nature photographer, late summer and fall I'm out shooting too much to be working in the yard. ; )
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery I hear ya, right now hear in western WA we’ve been getting scattered day of sun between our rain. I’ve headed out today and started cutting back an area that’s been growing into the wooded trees for many years. Some of the vines are up 10 feet or more! The leaves are just breaking buds. I’m leaving about 2-3 foot of stalk so they don’t send out a bunch of new shoots from the ground. Instead they trend to send all there energy to these established leaves. We get a lot of rain that would wash away chemicals and since these aren’t really growing that much I’ll return when the time is right and cut and daub the stalks at the ground during a hot dry group of days. This way the bulk of the work is done early.
It just need to not be raining. I think fall is actually best for effectiveness, but spring is easiest if they are growing among other plants that loose their leaves.
I'm in Portland OR. I hired someone to do this to the blackberries in my back yard on August 2. It's been very hot and the soil is parched. There has been no significant rainfall in over two months. I'm hoping this helps kill them. The soil is very compacted and needs to be roto-tilled. How long should I wait before doing this? I don't plan on planting anything until next Spring.
Actually, tilling the soil will make it more compact because it kills the biology of the soil. It's the microorganisms in soil that build structure and make it both drain and hold moisture by creating tiny air passage ways called aggregates. Since you have time, the best thing to do is skip the tilling, lay down a layer of brown cardboard to control any weeds, and cover it with a 4-8 inch layer of wood chips. That will feed the life in the soil, while keeping weeds out and as the mycelium breaks down the wood chips, it will make the soil more fertile. This is the natural process that happens in forests. Believe me, nature knows what she's doing. For more info on this, search UA-cam for "wood chip gardening" "no till" or just watch the documentary "Back to Eden". Good luck!
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery I watched this video on No-Till gardening and already started collecting empty cardboard boxes from store and putting them down. ua-cam.com/video/ZErovOnP8QI/v-deo.html My only concern is he says it takes several years to really improve the soil. I want to plant next year. I'm also wondering if you could add grass clippings to the wood chips instead of straw? Speaking of wood chips, I'm having a large tree taken down and and chipped. Can I use those? I'm not sure what species of tree it is but will find out when the tree guy gives me an estimate. Nature will provide a lot of leaves in the Fall.
LOL! Not all varieties are created equal. These are the Himalayan ones that are very invasive. I've also planted other varieties in my garden and agree they are delicious!
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery I understand...I was just sad to see so many destroyed....but I get that they can be invasive now...I have wild east texas blackberries, they are native...Thanks for the reply, I didn't mean to sound so rude....I am a girl after all...we can be bitatches....my apologies handsome..
We don't seem to have bionide in the UK, so am trying another stump killer. Fingers firmly crossed, as I hate using chemicals, but after 23 years of fighting ever increasing brambles I will try anything
I live in BC and I looked everywhere for Triclopyr. Looks like herbicides are really locked down in canada. The best I could find was Glyphosate concentrate which is 14%. I'll try this cut stump method with that and see how it goes.
Thank you. I got free wood chips from a few tree companies and I think they were full of blackberries because now I have an infestaton of blackberries. YIKES
I like to do it in late winter/spring because they are so easy to see among other plants. But, I've heard it's most effective late summer right after the berries are shriviling, because the plants are pulling energy back into the roots for the winter.
I was under the impression that any tiny piece of blackberry vine can grow a separate new plant... So, wouldn't using the hedge clipper basically mince hundreds of tiny vine pieces and create an apocalyptic problem of new plants?
Exactly. Hand cutting each bramble into manageable lengths for disposal, then applying the herbicide to the freshly cut root base is ideal - that being said, if you’re faced with a massive over grown area, it may be the only reasonable way to manage things. Just a nightmare to clean up the site after removal.
@@miketobin2324 I cleared my half acre property of the Himalayan BlackBerry that covered every square inch of it, including the cabin!! I started 4 years ago. It’s still showing up here and there but nothing like it was. Every 3 or 4 months I’d go in and cut to the ground. After some time, the root balls weaken and come up a little easier. I never did use herbicides - but I’m going to start. I’ve had enough of this.
![Blackberry Removal 🌿[TheHappyPlaceGarden]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0ZVxNbfdWjo/mqdefault.jpg)
I’ve tried this in California..it didn’t seem to work but after further research I think if it’s done in the fall when the plant is drawing nutrients back to the roots it will have more effect. Good luck everyone
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'm in WA state, at a dead end street, blackberries bordering the entire length of the property. This is do-able for a senior like me, and eco friendly. Thanks again!
My Pleasure!
I’m in WA as well! I bought my house and it’s being swallowed by these annoying bushes!
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery how many black berries do these produce?
@@teru797 Any that it produces are tiny and loaded with seeds.
I’m in Washington state as well. The Himalayan blackberries are real killers. Himalayan blackberries at my house, however produce good berries. But the berries don’t ripen all at once so it’s very time consuming to pick them. It’s also hard to tell which berries are ripe.
The most efficient method I found for picking the berries I use a giant enamel metal canning pot and put a strap on it so I could wear it. I also wear welding gloves that came with my house.(The house is quite old). I grab the thorny stem with my welding gloves and shake the BlackBerry vine over the giant metal pot. That way only the ripe sweet blackberries fall off into the pot.
Himalayan blackberries are originally from Romania. They were developed in their current form by the famous Luther Burbank. He developed them to have a very good taste in to go to have a good crop of berries. I don’t think he had any idea how invasive they would be in the Puget Sound region.
I’m going to try this bonite on the blackberries that I don’t want to grow back. A lot of them are going around the stumps of a row of trees I had to have taken out so it is very hard to get to the roots.
This is exellent! -- I even have a hedge trimmer like the one you used. Another thing i learned from some farm neighbors near our property is that if you have old posts or sprinklers that stand tall, the birds who eat the blackberries perch on those and poop out blackberry seeds -- this has caused several clusters of blackberries on our land.
Oh cool! Thanks for that insight! Have fun trimming!
For five years I've been trying to dig out blackberries on my property - I was about to throw in the towel and just do the RoundUp because I can't ever get ahead. I'm going to give this method two years starting today. Thanks.
Yay! Don't give up and don't round up! I think you'll be happy with this method!
Did it work?
How is your progress?
@@vangle8488He got strangled with a Blackberry shoot.
Any update???😅
This is the MOST practical long-term approach I have come across! And I've been researching everywhere for sustainable solutions, without spreading herbicides! Thank you so much for all this info, particularly explaining how your approach has worked in your yard over the past few years. Very valuable to those of us who have battled these tenacious, horrid blackberries for years. 👍🙏🌟 P.S. I'm also going to try injecting -- with a hypodermic needle -- 30% vinegar into some of the cut root areas, to see if that also works [based on a tip from a friend].
That's wonderful to hear. Best wishes!
I’ve been wanting to try an injection method, how did this workout?
I just received this product myself, and I’m committed to giving it a try. These blackberries are so hardy, nasty, and the thorns are terrible. Looking forward to eradicating them, and I can understand it takes a commitment!
Another Washington homeowner here with Himalayan blackberries taking over.
At 70, I can't (or just don't want to) dig the roots up like I used to ... using this method, I can do this, as long as I portion off about 25 sq feet at a time and just concentrate on that area.
So, your video did prepare me how to effectively attack our very overgrown yard.
1) Portion it out in bits at a time
2) Expedite cutting the vines down via my trusty EGO electric hedge trimmer
3) Get down close and personal and clip each one, getting the new shoots too
4) Daub on the Magic Juice then move on.
My first day using this method, didn't produce a large cleared area, but it's a very good feeling knowing that in doing it this way, they won't keep coming back.
I actually enjoyed the smell of the earth, so everything considered I'd say today was a huge success.
I'll just keep at it until they're done ... It'll likely take a while, but that's Ok!
Daubers I'm using to expedite this process: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09QSZT54J?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image
Excellent Dave. Perfect summary. Keep on daubing!
Hi Dave, I am curious how your progress is going. Do you mind sharing an update? Thank you!
@@vangle8488 Hi, the bad news is that the task was just too overwhelming in my state of health, the wonderful news is that I paid a very hardworking neighbor to cut them and dig up most all the roots. The few that are left, I easily daubed, and we are now blackberry free with a plan to address any newcomers that may pop up. All in all, I'm very pleased with the daubing method and feel confident that this is a great way to deal with Himalayan blackberries. None of the ones that I daubed are coming back. Hope this helps.👍
I plan to try this method next weekend- have you had success ?
Yep, this method works! I've been cutting the branches at the base and applying full-strength poison right to the stub for years. It's the only way to clear BB from hedgerows and other areas that can't be sprayed. It's work, but worth the effort. Thanks for the video.
You got it!
Super helpful! The only video I have seen which addresses how to deal with the root besides digging it up (which isn’t always an option). Thank you!
So glad it helps!
Finally a good video on how to properly get rid of BlackBerry bushes. Thanks man.
You bet! Glad it helped!
Great video! I am an arborist in Seattle and I'm helping one of my friends with hillside restoration. We are trying to plant some native trees to help hold the hillside while selectively removing blackberry. This is a long term goal since we can't remove everything all at once. This method would be extremely helpful so we don't dig and disturb the integrity of the soil while we let tree roots grow. I really appreciate the time you took to explain the process (beautiful property by the way). Thanks for uploading this video!
Thank you so much!
We will have spent so much money alone dumping these blackberry briars at the transfer station! I have spent money and time and spraying nasty herbicides for years working on our 5 acres. You made my week!!!!!
Did this work for you? I plan to attack blackberries next weekend
At first I was really worried you were using an herbicide that would damage the environment. But the specific way you use it is perfect for killing the blackberry vine yet preserving the health of the soil, water and the surrounding plants. Thank you!!!
Exactly Alida! Most people spray herbicide all over the area, killing all the native plants, polluting the land and water, and not actually getting rid of the blackberry. This is the best method I've found that actually works. Please subscribe to my channel if you liked this: ua-cam.com/channels/ooE0MLZbm085K8mG_JqzCQ.html
Hard job killing bamboo, I was desprate so I kept putting fires on top of roots after trimming top shoots growth, this after three or four fires killed it and trailing root creepers.
I used my hedge clippers on my blackberries last year, started out with the chainsaw, but it wasn't working on them, so took the brand new hedge clippers and it cut like butter! Now I need to get this stuff to keep them away. I will get some knee pads and crawl around and apply this stuff to what will be left of my blackberries when I do this again.
I love the rose garden gloves, thank you. Will have to look for them too!
Excellent!
How did this method work on your invasive BlackBerry bushes? I hate those things. They're taking over my yard and cutting my dog up.
@@TakeTheRide I haven't gotten them out yet, they keep coming back. I wish I had gotten them out when there were two strands of them back 20 years ago. Yes, they are taking friggen over and so is the wisteria. I hate them!
@@dlwcrazyblondeoneSame with the blackberry, it was fun for the kids when they were little and they would eat them, but not 20 years later. I have wisteria, I thought I got them all, but my thought too, I can use this on the vines that keep coming up in my garden. I love them, but they literally tore down my overhead trellis over the years
Definitely going to try this with my creekside property. Hard to keep down without pulling them out of the creekside but I want them out of my garden (we are working towards no till, natural, organic), and don't want it to affect the future plants or the water (we are on a well, as well, so maintaining the grounds as organic as possible is the goal). Thank you!!
You are welcome! Yay for no till!
Awesome advise. Out here in Rural Oregon, and the invasive blackberries are endemic. So is english ivy, kudzu and scotch broom. All of these I suspect could be eradicated with this method. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, I'd think it could work on all of them. However ivy is it's own special kind of insanity because it puts down so many roots along its runners. But I'd be curious to see how it goes. Thank you!
In suburban Oregon & they COMPLETELY invaded my backyard while was in Washington for 3yrs. My son cut them down & wanted to rototill the entire yard for a few weeks- not feasible! This is something that could work without too much work & not poison the environment so I'm all for it! THANK YOU ❤
Thank you! I had no idea there was a way to poison just the H.B.s - we've been digging out the roots - very hard work - this looks SO much easier!
Easier and more effective!
Thank you so much for this method. I’ve been searching for a method that actually works and doesn’t destroy the environment. Going to try this week!
Best of luck!
This is excellent, thanks! I'm in WA state and we have a lot of these, but I don't like to spray chemicals. This method is perfect for our needs. Thank you...
So glad it's helpful!!
THANK YOU!!!! I just spent the day digging them up, I’m scratched and dirty and just ordered the stump and vine killer!!!!! 💜💜💜🙏🏻
Awesome Mama Mac! Keep at it!
Thanks so much for sharing!! I have been fighting off blackberry briars in northwest Florida for the last couple of years that seemingly started out of nowhere, but made the grave mistake of trying industrial vinegar which, as you probably know, killed all the surrounding vegetation so the briars could come back even bigger and stronger. Watching your method gives me hope. 🙏
Dewberry or blackberry?
They are actually dewberry, but I’m hoping this method will still work
Nevermind, it’s actually both kinds!! 🤦♀️
That's very encouraging that you've had such good results with the bonide stump killer. I was reading reviews on Amazon and a lot of them were very negative (saying that it didn't work). I bought crossbow, thinking that I might spray it in the fall to help take some of the chemicals down to the root (I've been just cutting back/digging for 2 years without any good results). But this seems a lot easier to handle -- you don't have to suit up in a spacesuit and worry about hurting off-target plants. I wonder if this would work on bamboo?
Thank you so much! I almost lost hope to get rid of them.
Thank you! Blackberries are tasty but I call it the cockroach of plants, lol. I am a new home-owner with a yard and it is a marvel to see the tenacity of these suckers! I am grateful for your insight and video!
Found you with this video and then realized very quickly how much other amazing work you do! Thank you for this. I didn't want to wait for the green to come in before starting our HBB removal... but now, I'm wondering if we should wait for the new shoots to come up more. Thank you so much, about to buy this stump and vine killer now!
Thanks Shalena! I love nature! For us we like to do the removal early in the season since the only place we still have it is where it's intermeshed with a bunch of native plants, so once those leaf out it's hard to see the BB. But if you have only the BB, waiting a little longer can help you see the new "babies" easier. Thanks for subscribing and following my work!
Thank you thank you! I have a huge backyard of blackberries overgrowth in the house I just bought and have been trying to figure out how to handle it safely. This is perfect! I’ve already hacked at the overgrowth (it took me 6 hours-your trimmer looks like a dream!) I do have one question though: I plan to level the yard in a few week-is it safe to use the stump killer now, if some of these stumps may be be uprooted in the leveling process? Or should I wait until after the leveling process, but risk losing the visibility of the stumps? I so appreciate your help.
Do it now for sure. The product will suck into the roots within a day or two. Enjoy replanting your dream yard!
I had chemicals to kill these things. My yard was waaaay worst to do this method. It's been 3 yrs and they've barely cam back. (Due because I have the other half left still) plants are starting to grow on their own again. But I'm still clearing land and still in the process of planning on designing my garden and replanting trees I'm doing the whole yard!
Thank you for this explanation & how to video. You got great camera angles of everything. So I'd know what to look for. Out near Ocean Shores, WA. Blackberries and salmon berries are everywhere. Keeping the majority of the salmon berries and a contained area for blackberries ( as I like to make jam every year). Very helpful. 🥰💙💚💜🌿
Glad it was useful!!
Thanks! We have a ton of these blackberry brambles that have gone wild this year with all the rain! I am ordering the gloves (didn't even know there was such a thing as rose gloves) and stump killer from Amazon today. I do have a hedge trimmer and am ready to clear the jungle. Thanks for the info, I didn't want to use a herbacide and you gave me a great alternative.
Great video Peter! Trying to pull up those plants is near impossible. Excellent solution! Thanks for the video. 🧑🌾
This is sooo helpful, we just bought our first home and have so much unusable space- will start this project soon!
Best of luck!
Thanks for this systematic method. We have been battling blackberry vines in our yard in south Snohomish County. They come back like a forest out of our garden beds filled with compost. The method you use with dabbing that stump remover is like what my dad did many years ago. I couldn't remember what he used. Can you tell me how long it takes for the brambles to finish dying after putting that stump remover on them? Do the roots rot underground? I am trying to figure how long it will take to be able to do something with the space. Thank you so much!
You will cut all the brambles away, and the roots should rot and not grow back. Sometimes you'll get a little grow-back, but not nearly as much. You'll just hit those again. Since there will be a small amount of the stump killer in the ground, I wouldn't eat anything you grow in this space for 2-3 years. So you could grow ornamentals or perennial food like fruit trees or bushes, and just wait to eat it's fruit - which usually take several years to produce anyway.
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery OK, thank you!
How long until you could plant in those areas? This video just gave me so much hope. I’ve done 12 hours of blackberry removal with just hand clippers and two months later there are all these new shoots. I am getting the bonide and hedge trimmer today!
How's your progress? Have the same problem. Planning to buy heavy duty hedge trimmer and this chemical.
Thank You! We have a section that has been growing for decades, it appears. This is so helpful.
You are so welcome!
8 months later you have finally reached the last and final stalk.
Haha!
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery
But what if they are inside bushes that you want to keep ?
@@olliephelan The beauty of this technique is that it just kills the roots of the plant you treat. That said, I wouldn't eat any fruit from plants that have roots that are enmeshed with the treated roots.
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery
They are in hedges where is almost impossible to find the root or stem.
(those box hedges ; too dense to get much access )
digging will be impossible for most of it.
I was thinking of dabbing Round-Up onto freshly cut branches with a Q-tip, in the same way as in the vid.
But at best it will just restrict them slightly, because I wont be able to get many close to the ground.
I watched a box hedge around the corner being fully taken over and displaced by briar /blackberry.
None of the original bush is there.
@@olliephelan That should be effective if you use the Cut Stump and Vine Killer. That's not how Roundup is designed to work.
Thank You! I try so hard to not use any chemicals, but have a major blackberry problem. This looks like the way to go!
Spent all day digging them out by the root. Will get some of this killer this week for the few along my fence line. Thanks.
Good job!
This absolutely worked. It was less labor intensive than digging out the roots. Thank you so much.
Thank you! I have had a bird plant it in my border and each year I dig it out, it has almost taken over my Japanese maple.
I will do this right away.
I just learned I can make Biochar from the vines I've cut. I have been building raised beds on top of dead vines cut up. It's kind of a Zen thing. I cut and then dig out the corm. The vines disappear into a pulverized dust.
Wow that's so cool!
Thanks! Right now I am battling these buggers! Now I know how to clobber them!
Thank you!! Now I need to look for the German equivalent of the stuff. Our garden is so invested it's not even funny
Best of luck!
This video help me begin to remove the blackberries that were taking over our native habitat. Thank you!
Thanks for this because I don't want to spray chemicals every where to get rid of it. Will changing the acidity of the soil help also?
Hawaii homeowner battling Himalayan golden raspberry! I was using an echo weed wacker with rhino tuff blades. Making progress but damn your method just might be the very best!!
I cut a lot of these over the winter and am now clearing out a pretty large section by hand. Most of them are 12 ft tall/long and I’m on my 4th truckload. A lot of them are so dead and dry that they just break off so I have to go back when I’m done and take a crap ton up.
But I’m going to have to go back to all the “stumps” I left, the ones I couldn’t pull up, and put some of this on it cause the roots are crazy long and definitely have vibes underground everywhere.
I notice that the description of this product specifies a brush applicator, as well as on Bonide's site, instead of the dauber type that you used in your video. Do you think the brush was an improvement? Do you have to apply it right away after cutting? I began cutting them down a few weeks ago. Also, other products with this active ingredient seem to be available for less money. This seems to be very expensive for only 1 cup of product. Thank you for sharing this.
I prefer the dauber to the brush so I have an old bottle that I keep refilling. If you've already cut them, just recut a little lower and then hit it with the product. Buy in bulk and save!
@@thepeterjamesstudios I like the dauber concept too. I'll try the brush but am thinking of using a very small foam paint brush. There are also daubers sold elsewhere. Good idea about cutting lower. I still have much more to do so will be using your method to finish. How do you deal with newly sprouted leaves? Paint the leaves or cut and daub? Bulk, meaning multiple bottles?
Love your photographs...BEAUTIFUL!
So helpful for a PNW newbie!
For sure!
Same, im dealing with a half acre completely surrounded by them and this is what I'm about to start trying
Thanks heaps for this. I can't believe how quickly they grow back. It's the thorns that just annoy the pants out of me. I wonder if we have a similar product in Australia. Cheers.
Gordon's Brush Killer for Large Properties kills blackberry bushes down to the roots. You cut and clear the bushes after they are dead. You don't need to spray the entire property, just direct your spray nozzle onto the blackberry leaves.
I need to do that. My whole back yard is full of blackberries. I haven't used any chemicals because I'm afraid of killing the deer, and other animals, that are always coming into my yard. Do you think it would be safe to use your method? I've been fighting those blackberries for years. It is just out of control. It so bad that I can't even use my yard for anything at all.
Hi Patty! It really should have no negative effect on your wild animals, and it allows the native plants to grow back which helps the wildlife. Take back your yard for you and for our four legged friends!
@@thepeterjamesstudios Thank you so much for answering! I'm definitely going to try it. I've been fighting those black berries for years. It's really annoying to have a whole back yard and not ever being able to ever enjoy it.
What if the neighbor want to keep it and you just want to get rid of those who invading your yard?
That's fine. Just do yours, but know you'll have to defend your perimeter each year.
Hey there, thanks for the info! Looking forward to trying this soon. Question, how long do you need to let the vine killer set in before it kills the blackberry? I have a garden that I’d love to use this spring/summer but it’s currently overgrown with blackberry. Thank you!
I'm going to give this a try! It seems like an effective solution without being polluting!
Good Luck and have fun!
Hi, do you know if this is safe for wildlife animals? I want to get rid of blackberry roots but don’t want to scare off wild rabbits
I’m really excited to try this!! I have about a quarter mile of 6’ tall brambles by 30-60’ wide in areas.
If they are growing through a lawn can you still use the vine killer
You sure can!
Thank you!!! I have been researching and this is the first solution that seems like it’s going to work
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Informative, quick and to the point of what we were needing to know without rambling on and on. THANK YOU!
thanks for your great video. I just bought a 3 acre property with serious bramble issues. I have a couple of questions. 1. will this product work on any variety of brambles? and 2. I can't seem to get this product in spain where I live. I can however get Roundup. would that work too if I used it in the same way dabbing it on the root? many thanks
Hi! Yes it works on most plants. I would not use Roundup because that's an entirely different product meant to work a different way. Maybe try to find something with the same active ingredient.
If you only have a few blackberry vines one method I have used is to get a small jar and fill it with Roundup (any vegetation killer actually) and burry it half way in the ground for support. Cut the tip of the vine off and stick in the jar. I use duct tape to secure the vine from popping out. I wait months before removing the jar. The I cut the vine off at the base. If everything else fails give it a shot.
I have a small area around 3 x 3 that I want to get rid of blackberries, I was wondering if I can start doing this now in late August? Temps are around 80 in Virginia. Thanks
Sure! Any time of year works.
Thank you! I’m so happy I won’t have to dig up the roots when I do this. You rock! Could you please share more about what gloves you used? I
The long sleeve leather gloves are called Rose Gloves! Enjoy!
What are you using to dab it on?
The bottle comes with a brush built into the cap.
This is a super great and informative video! Thanks for making this and sharing this awesome method!
Awesome vid. I gotta save my neighborhood's retention basin before its too late!! They take over more space every year
So it's a blackberry retention basin then. LOL!
Those arborvitae? are stunning. Do you know which variety they are? What a nice property. Great you're restoring things.
Yes they are Emerald Green Arborvite and need to be protected from the deer.
@@thepeterjamesstudios Really nice ones.
Thanks! I have a 30x60 foot area that I’m going to attack
Do you remove the cuttings and throw them in a yard waste bin? Or let them decompose on the ground?
I put them in a pile somewhere out of site to decompose. Thanks!
I would not compost them as they may re-sprout. I burn everything as soon as possible.
Thank you very much for the information, picking up the product this Friday and I’ll get on it!
Best of luck!!
Hi, I have a 2 acre property and about 1.5 acres is bordered by blackberries. Do you think this method is doable or Is there another way you’d suggest? Thank you.
Ashlee, Yes this is the only way I've found that works. People that try to cut corners and just spray everything end up making the problem worse since the only thing that grows in toxic soil is weeds and blackberries. Maybe you can do a little each year. Consensus is that fall is the best time to do it if you want to kill them in one go. I do it it the spring because I don't have time in the fall because I'm a nature photographer and I end up having maybe 10% come back so I have to repeat the process for a couple years. Since you have so much area to cover you'll want to be efficient. Best of luck!
So glad I found your video. Very thorough. I realize now I need to cut to ground.
What hedge trimmer do you have? Mine gets stuck on big blackberry stems. Also, any non leather gloves recommendations? I’m a vegan. Thank you so much for this video! I’m in WA state and blackberries are killing our woods
I have the DeWalt 20V and love it! Just use the thickest gloves you can get your hands on / in. Best of luck!
Heh, heh! Nope---- it's leather or NOTHING!
I am at the stage of needing the cut stump chemical!! Can I get it in Canada?
Question... could i put food dye in the solution so i can see if i missed one when doing a large area? Great video!
It's worth a try!
Once the dead parts of the plants "decompose" won't the chemicals be absorbed into the soil anyways? Of course it is a lot less but if you were wanting to grow food or something in that area that might not be ideal, right? I love this idea because I battle with Blackberry bushes year after year and my approach is digging up the roots which is a pain.
That's right. There will be some chemical in the soil, but it's a fraction of what you'd have if you spray the whole area, and it will break down over time. If you're doing an area the you want to grow food in right away, the only way is to dig out each and every tiny root. Otherwise do this and wait a couple years. Thanks!
Good tip, thanks for sharing. Unfortunately I have 3 acres of this evasive bush. There’s no way I can individually cut and dab each stem, just not practical. I may try to brush cut with a metal blade weedwacker then carefully spray as best I can.
Or hire an excavator for the day if they are in a reachable area. Excavate most out that way, then clear what you couldn't get out.
Goats 👍
Does this method work if you can't reach the base of the plant? I have a ton of blackberries buried in the middle of thick bushes that are on a steep hillside and getting to the base is simply impossible.
It should help. Worth a try!
Im working a steep hill with blackberrys.I use this method they come back but not as thick .I have initially used specific blackberry spray once .and it does make it easier
Omigosh, Peter, Thank you so much for this!! (xo, Carol B.)
Wait you do this every year?
A tool that might save your back and knees is a brushcutter. It's a little more spendy and specialized but it can be worth it if this is an annual chore
Get a oregon mulching blade for ur weed wacker, it can't be a cheap weed wacker though.
I also have a neighbour who does not take care of their yard at all! Tired of dealing with blackberry will have to try this. Hopefully I can find the product.
HI from Germany. - This product is no effect on the soil and doesn't create any other issues or chemical imbalances, right? - Is it sodium and sulfit, isn't it?
I got an acre of blackberry vines! I need a quick mass brush, killer without cutting them first.
Amazing! Am going to try right away. The blackberries have gotten out of control. Do you have any tips for dandelions??
Consider making friends with the dandelions -- they are the first pollen source for the bees. Dandelion greens are very nutritious, and the blooms are also edible. Dandelion Roots can be cut and dry fried, and used to make medicinal tea!
A different perspective... FWIW
Two questions:
- How do you dispose the cut canes? Won’t they grow back or leave seeds if let in the same spot?
- Are there more eco friendly alternatives to the vine and stump killer?
IMO: Blackberry is really hard to get rid of. This is the easiest way I’ve found so far.
More eco friendly is digging them all out to the last root, good luck.
I'm new to the PNW, but was talking with my neighbors. We're surrounded by [delicious] blackberry bushes, and they said after they left cuttings in a totally different part of the yard, a new bush sprouted up and they had a new problem in that area. So, I'd be careful to make sure they're disposed of fairly quickly/sent to compost away from your yard.
My fam just burns em, but if you want I have tried cutting em into like 1 foot long sticks and left em in a spot that gets a lot of sun to completely dry out, left em for like a couple weeks or so then composted em.
Or if your yard doesn't get a lot of sun, my fam has a rot bin for the weeds that are a real danger to spread like morning glory for instance. And what a rot bin is, is a big bin that can hold water (we just use old water barrels,) but ya just keep a good amount of water in there so stuff just rots and terns into goo. Make sure to have a lid or put some ceder needles in there or something so mosquitoes don't have babies in there.
I like to put the cut canes (ones without berries) in a very hot area during the summer which kills them immediately. You have to be a lot more careful if the temperature is really mild and it's moist and you have a big pile -- that's when they tend to try and re-root. Just give them a ton of sun exposure and make sure they're not buried.
Before I watch, I hope the answer isn't "rent a heard of goats to eat them" lol.
I learned this from Oregon State University’s killing blackberries brochure.
The best time to kill blackberries is in late summer/early fall just as the fruit is dying on the vines. This is because the plant starts to pull sugars from the leaves back to the roots to store for the next growing season. This pulls the killer into the root system, killing the entire plant and prevents new shoots from coming out of the root system. Picking a hot day to do this is best since the killer is quickly absorbed into the plant.
Either spray the leaves according to the instructions or cut the vines about a foot above the soil and use a wool dauber to coat the ends of the stumped vines with full concentrate.
Triclopyr, as is in the killer shown in this video was the best killer to use. The amount needs to be up there in percentage to work. I’ve had great results using Ortho’s version and a Gilmor dial-in hand sprayer with the bottle that holds the concentrate and mixes as you spray using a garden hose hooked up to it.
Bonide Brush Killer 8.8%
Ortho Max Poison Ivy Tough Brush Killer 8.0%
That's good to know. I certainly prefer daubing to spraying since it doesn't effect the neighboring plants. As for timing, I do it in late winter/early spring because that's when I'm available. Being a professional nature photographer, late summer and fall I'm out shooting too much to be working in the yard. ; )
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery I hear ya, right now hear in western WA we’ve been getting scattered day of sun between our rain. I’ve headed out today and started cutting back an area that’s been growing into the wooded trees for many years. Some of the vines are up 10 feet or more! The leaves are just breaking buds. I’m leaving about 2-3 foot of stalk so they don’t send out a bunch of new shoots from the ground. Instead they trend to send all there energy to these established leaves. We get a lot of rain that would wash away chemicals and since these aren’t really growing that much I’ll return when the time is right and cut and daub the stalks at the ground during a hot dry group of days. This way the bulk of the work is done early.
@@Mr_PNW Good strategy!
Does it work any time of year? Or just the spring?
It just need to not be raining. I think fall is actually best for effectiveness, but spring is easiest if they are growing among other plants that loose their leaves.
👍
I'm in Portland OR. I hired someone to do this to the blackberries in my back yard on August 2. It's been very hot and the soil is parched. There has been no significant rainfall in over two months. I'm hoping this helps kill them. The soil is very compacted and needs to be roto-tilled. How long should I wait before doing this? I don't plan on planting anything until next Spring.
Actually, tilling the soil will make it more compact because it kills the biology of the soil. It's the microorganisms in soil that build structure and make it both drain and hold moisture by creating tiny air passage ways called aggregates. Since you have time, the best thing to do is skip the tilling, lay down a layer of brown cardboard to control any weeds, and cover it with a 4-8 inch layer of wood chips. That will feed the life in the soil, while keeping weeds out and as the mycelium breaks down the wood chips, it will make the soil more fertile. This is the natural process that happens in forests. Believe me, nature knows what she's doing. For more info on this, search UA-cam for "wood chip gardening" "no till" or just watch the documentary "Back to Eden". Good luck!
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery Thanks!
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery I watched this video on No-Till gardening and already started collecting empty cardboard boxes from store and putting them down.
ua-cam.com/video/ZErovOnP8QI/v-deo.html
My only concern is he says it takes several years to really improve the soil. I want to plant next year. I'm also wondering if you could add grass clippings to the wood chips instead of straw? Speaking of wood chips, I'm having a large tree taken down and and chipped. Can I use those? I'm not sure what species of tree it is but will find out when the tree guy gives me an estimate. Nature will provide a lot of leaves in the Fall.
I love blackberries...planted 9 varieties(2 thorny) and one wild(thorny)....I want them to take over!!!!!
LOL! Not all varieties are created equal. These are the Himalayan ones that are very invasive. I've also planted other varieties in my garden and agree they are delicious!
@@PeterJamesPhotographyGallery I understand...I was just sad to see so many destroyed....but I get that they can be invasive now...I have wild east texas blackberries, they are native...Thanks for the reply, I didn't mean to sound so rude....I am a girl after all...we can be bitatches....my apologies handsome..
We don't seem to have bionide in the UK, so am trying another stump killer. Fingers firmly crossed, as I hate using chemicals, but after 23 years of fighting ever increasing brambles I will try anything
We have these growing between our fences. I can’t reach the ground :(
Just get as low as you can and it should still work.
I live in BC and I looked everywhere for Triclopyr. Looks like herbicides are really locked down in canada. The best I could find was Glyphosate concentrate which is 14%. I'll try this cut stump method with that and see how it goes.
same problem for me in europe, i can't find anything containing triclopyr, not sure if it's banned... could be...
This is the most helpful info i've found thanks you! 🙏
Wonderful! Please subscribe if you want. Thanks!
I cannot reach the base of the plants and cut them. Is there a way to kill them from the leaves?
Thank you. I got free wood chips from a few tree companies and I think they were full of blackberries because now I have an infestaton of blackberries. YIKES
From where. Can o e gets this product. I want to buy
You should be able to find it on Amazon. Thanks!
Can you do this anytime of the year? Or is there only a specific time of the year that will be effective
I like to do it in late winter/spring because they are so easy to see among other plants. But, I've heard it's most effective late summer right after the berries are shriviling, because the plants are pulling energy back into the roots for the winter.
I was under the impression that any tiny piece of blackberry vine can grow a separate new plant... So, wouldn't using the hedge clipper basically mince hundreds of tiny vine pieces and create an apocalyptic problem of new plants?
Exactly. Hand cutting each bramble into manageable lengths for disposal, then applying the herbicide to the freshly cut root base is ideal - that being said, if you’re faced with a massive over grown area, it may be the only reasonable way to manage things. Just a nightmare to clean up the site after removal.
@@miketobin2324 I cleared my half acre property of the Himalayan BlackBerry that covered every square inch of it, including the cabin!! I started 4 years ago. It’s still showing up here and there but nothing like it was. Every 3 or 4 months I’d go in and cut to the ground. After some time, the root balls weaken and come up a little easier. I never did use herbicides - but I’m going to start. I’ve had enough of this.
@@miketobin2324 ps buy yourself the very best welding gloves and wear face protection.