Brambles are a common nuisance in many gardens With their sharp thorns and fast-growing vines, these plants can quickly take over your yard. Getting rid of brambles takes some work, but it can be done through cutting, digging, and monitoring your garden Here is a step-by-step guide to removing brambles and keeping them from coming back.
What Are Brambles?
Brambles, also known as blackberries are a group of plants in the Rubus genus. They are characterized by arched thorny stems and clusters of white or pink flowers that produce juicy blackberries. Brambles spread through tip layering, meaning the tips of the vines touch the ground and take root. They also spread by seeds contained in the berries.
While brambles produce tasty berries that are enjoyed by wildlife and humans, their aggressive growth makes them a nuisance. They can smother desirable plants and make areas dangerous to walk through. Their thorns also make them difficult to remove. Getting rid of brambles requires diligence but is worthwhile to reclaim your yard.
Dangers of Brambles
Brambles may seem harmless, but they can cause several issues:
-
Sharp thorns – Bramble stems and vines are covered in sharp thorns that can scratch skin and get caught in clothes
-
Fast spreading – Through tip layering and berries, brambles spread quickly and can take over large areas.
-
Smothers plants – The dense growth shades out and smothers neighboring plants.
-
Harbors pests – Fallen berries can attract pests like mice. Dense brambles provide habitat for these pests.
-
Difficult to remove – Once established, brambles are stubborn to remove completely. Any roots left can resprout.
When to Remove Brambles
It’s best to remove brambles in late winter or early spring before growth starts. At this time:
-
Brambles are dormant so cutting back stems is easier.
-
New growth has not started, so you can better see and access established plants.
-
The ground is softer for digging out roots.
-
There are no berries present that could spread seeds.
Tools Needed
Removing brambles takes the right tools for the job:
-
Loppers or brush cutter for cutting back growth
-
Heavy gloves and clothing for protection
-
Shovel, pickaxe, or mattock for digging
-
Rake for clearing cut debris
-
Weed killer (optional)
Make sure to wear heavy-duty gloves, long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes when working around brambles. The thorns can easily scratch exposed skin. Safety glasses are also a good idea.
How to Remove Brambles
Follow these steps to get rid of brambles:
Cut the Growth Back
Use loppers, pruners, or a brush cutter to cut back the brambles to about 6 inches from the ground. Cut any vines growing into trees or shrubs at the base. Remove all cut growth and put it in the trash; do not compost.
Dig Up the Roots
Use a shovel, pickaxe, or mattock to dig down around the stump and main roots. Pull or pry the roots out of the ground. Remove as much of the root system as possible to prevent regrowth.
Apply Herbicide (Optional)
For any remaining roots, apply a triclopyr- or glyphosate-based herbicide. This will kill the roots and help prevent regrowth. Follow product instructions carefully.
Remove Resprouts
Check the area regularly for any new sprouts. Pull these out immediately while they are small to prevent reinfestation.
Apply Mulch
Put down a 2-3 inch layer of mulch over the area. This will prevent seeds from taking hold and make it easier to spot resprouts.
With determination and diligence, it is possible to get rid of brambles. Just make sure to stay on top of monitoring for new growths. Catching them small will prevent another infestation.
Preventing Brambles from Returning
To avoid another bramble problem, here are some tips:
-
Maintain borders and empty spaces in your yard to prevent areas for brambles to establish.
-
Control brambles on adjacent properties from spreading into your yard. Cut any vines at the property line.
-
Mulch garden beds to reduce available seed germination spots.
-
Pull out bramble sprouts as soon as you see them before roots form.
-
Monitor your yard routinely, especially in spring, for new growth.
Staying vigilant is key to keeping brambles at bay in your garden. With persistence, you can reclaim your yard from these aggressive plants.
Benefits of Removing Brambles
While removing brambles is hard work, the benefits are worthwhile:
-
Eliminates thorns and tripping hazards, making your yard safer.
-
Prevents destruction of desired plants.
-
Reduces pests that are attracted to berries and habitat.
-
Improves accessibility around your property.
-
Gives you greater control over your garden.
-
Makes the yard look maintained and tidy.
-
Lets you fully enjoy your outdoor space.
With the brambles gone, you can replant with desired plants or create new garden features. The effort of bramble removal pays off with a clean slate for your dream yard.
When to Call a Professional
In severe bramble infestations, removal may be better left to professionals. Landscaping companies have powerful tools and weed killers to deal with large areas overrun by brambles. They can also remove roots more effectively.
Signs it’s time to call the pros:
-
Brambles cover a large portion of your property.
-
Vines have extensively grown into trees.
-
Digging out root systems is too difficult.
-
Resprouts are fast and overwhelming.
-
You are unable to stay on top of removal and monitoring.
Don’t feel defeated if you can’t conquer a bramble invasion yourself. Sometimes it’s more practical and effective to have an expert tackle the problem.
Enjoy Your Bramble-Free Garden
With persistence and vigilance, you can reclaim your yard from a bramble invasion. The effort will pay off in a safer, tidier outdoor space you can enjoy without fear of thorns. Just remember to continue monitoring and promptly removing any new sprouts before they can spread. With the right knowledge and tools, you can win the battle against brambles and restore your garden.
What do brambles look like?
Brambles are scrambling,
Deciduous refers to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) that lose their leaves seasonally, usually during autumn. This is a natural process triggered by the seasons shorter days and lower temperatures and allows plants to conserve energy during the winter months.
deciduous shrubs with thick, thorny, arching stems that can grow 1.8-2.5m (6-8ft) in length. They have dark green, deeply veined, toothed leaves with rounded leaflets; these turn orange and red in the autumn. Between June and September, five-petalled pink or white flowers appear in clusters on the end of last year’s stems; they are the typical open saucer shape of plants in the rose family with a mass of central stamens. Flowers are followed by plump, edible, aromatic fruit which ripens from green to red to purplish-black.
© Shutterstock6 / 6Ripe fruits are plump, glossy and almost black1 / 6Seed is often deposited by birds, so seedlings can appear far from any brambles© Shutterstock2 / 6Long stems arch over or scramble up supports© Shutterstock6 / 6Ripe fruits are plump, glossy and almost black1 / 6Seed is often deposited by birds, so seedlings can appear far from any brambles© Shutterstock2 / 6Long stems arch over or scramble up supportsprevnext
Did you know?
There are over 2000 microspecies of Rubus, all with similar though slightly different leaf shapes, flower colours and fruit characteristics. They are collectively grouped as Rubus fruticosus agg. – the suffix being short for aggregate. This arises because brambles can produce fruit without being fertilised (they can clone themselves) through a process called apomixis, and the resultant fruit can carry mutations.
Brambles are fantastic for wildlife and are a food plant for a variety of insects including weevils, flies, leafhoppers, capsid bugs and beetles. They’re great for pollinators, providing pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies, including the holly blue, speckled wood and gatekeeper, as well as the pollinating Eurasian bee beetle and thick-legged flower beetle. Brambles are particularly good for moths, with the Biological Records Centre listing almost 100 species, plus several micro moths, that use it as a food plant. These include numerous footman, pug and wave moths as well as the scarlet tiger, buff ermine and swallow-tailed moth. Its dense, thorny stems provide shelter for a variety of small mammals, including hedgehogs and mice, as well as nest sites for many garden birds, including dunnocks, song thrushes and yellowhammers. These animals also eat the blackberries in late summer.
© Shutterstock7 / 7Brambles provide shelter and food for harvest mice 1 / 7Large skipper butterflies feed on brambles © Shutterstock2 / 7Honey bees visit bramble flowers for nectar and pollen© Shutterstock7 / 7Brambles provide shelter and food for harvest mice 1 / 7Large skipper butterflies feed on brambles © Shutterstock2 / 7Honey bees visit bramble flowers for nectar and pollenprevnext
Top Tip
Check for nesting birds before you do any work to control or remove brambles. It is an offence under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 to damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. Nesting season generally lasts from March to August, but it may last longer for certain birds or those with multiple broods, so always check first.
Blackberries are also much loved, and ‘blackberrying’ is still a popular British pastime. The fruit is high in vitamin C and antioxidants and can be eaten raw, in drinks, or cooked in pies, crumbles, jellies and jams.
Did you know?
Brambles (Rubus fruticosus) are a parent plant of all cultivated blackberries and their hybrids. While it is possible to fan-train brambles for fruit, it is generally better to grow a cultivar, as these have been bred for improved fruit qualities and yield, thornless stems and a more manageable size. See our page on growing blackberries for more information.
However, the size and vigour of brambles means they are generally seen as weeds in most parts of a garden. They can quickly smother other plants and their sharp thorns makes them a hazard near pathways and in areas where children and pets play.
What is a weed?
The term ‘weed’ describes a plant that is growing where it isn’t wanted. Weeds usually thrive in average garden conditions, reproducing and spreading easily. It is up to you to decide what you call a weed and what you choose to retain or remove.
How to Clear Brambles!
FAQ
Does boiling water kill bramble roots?
Will the application of boiling water in a garden destroy brambles? Yes, applying boiling water directly to brambles can destroy them. The extreme heat can effectively kill the stems and leaves it comes into contact with, although it may not kill the root system.
Will bleach kill bramble bushes?
Yes, bleach can kill blackberry bushes, but it’s not the most effective or recommended method for controlling these plants. Bleach is a strong chemical that can damage plant cells and tissues, leading to the plant’s death.
What tool is used to get rid of brambles?
Useful tools for removing brambles by hand.
secateurs, welders gauntlets, loppers, etc.
How do you kill brambles?
If you prefer to avoid using commercial weed killers and your brambles are small, mix up a household solution to kill the plants. Mix 3 litres (0.79 US gal) of white vinegar, 1 kg (2.2 lb) of salt, and a squeeze of dish soap. Stir the solution and load it into a sprayer. Then soak all the brambles.
How do I get rid of brambles in my garden?
If you want to control brambles on your property, start by cutting the vines down 6 inches (15 cm) above the soil level. Then apply weed killer to the plant. After the plant dies, dig out all the roots to prevent it from growing back. Continually monitor your garden and remove and small sprouts to avoid another bramble infestation.
How do you remove brambles?
To remove brambles, one of the best ways is to cut them down and dig out the roots. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this can be time-consuming work, so you’ll need to be prepared. Before you get started, it is important to put on appropriate clothing and protective gear to avoid being injured by the thorns.
How do you treat brambles?
Pour it into a diffuser and sprinkle the foliage of the brambles and the lower stems hugging the ground. The results will be visible from the first week of the treatment. The first to dry are the most common herbaceous plants of the parietal type. To enhance the action of the herbicide, the treated plants can be suffocated with straw mulch.
When is it necessary to remove brambles?
Eliminating brambles is necessary when the plant, with its long shoots, invades the ground, hindering the growth of fruit trees or horticultural plants. There is a period of the year when it is convenient to clean the ground from brambles and it is autumn-winter.
How do you get rid of bramble weeds?
Apply weed killer to the freshly-cut plants. The best weed killers for brambles are triclopyr or glyphosate. Look for products that contain these ingredients. Then soak the entire plant down to the soil level with weed killer. Focus on spraying the newly-cut tips of the vines so the chemicals enter the plant.