Brambles Growing Through My Shrubs & Hedges

crosstownk

Hi All,

This is my first post here so I hope this is the right place for it.

Anyhoo, I moved into a 40+ year old house a year ago. One of the reasons I bought the house was because of the mature garden - plenty of hedges and shrubs - all of which afford lots of privacy. However, there are lots of brambles growing among the hedges in places. Round-Up has sorted the brambles that are not that close to the hedges but I don't want to risk spraying Round-Up on the ones that are among the hedges. I've a little 2 and half year old daughter who from time to time kicks a ball under the bushes and I'm concerned that she may injure herself should she delve too deep among brambles.

As well as the Round-Up, I've cut back as many bramble stems as I can. I even borrowed a long secateurs with telescopic handles to reach the more inaccessible ones. The problem is that some are so inaccessible to even cut that digging the root up is next to impossible without doing serious trimming to the hedges. Clipping the brambles back got rid of the ugly look but, tbh, brambles are so resiliant that they simply grow back every time Sad

Essentialy, I get the distinct impression that I'm wasting my time cutting them as the grow back at a rapid rate.

So my question - How do I put a stop to these brambles once and for all? I'm sick to death of cutting them back every couple of weeks and I'm running out of plasters!!

Any help or advice that any of you can offer would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Crosstownk.

verge · Last edited by verge on Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:16 pm; edited 2 times in total

Crosstownk, you have got to get to the root of the problem...literally Smile

Every time you cut back the stems, you will create more new stems.
The roots of the bramble are actually underground stems and these spring into action when you cut back the existing stems. Also when a stem tip hits the soil it roots so the thicket of bramble is forever growing outwards.

If you want to cut them out, you can have a look at this associated video.... Bramble removal, How-to Video.

The best solution is to dig the roots out but you are unable to do that. So the next best course of action is to cut the brambles back hard to just above ground level and spray or brush the leaves with Glyphosate (round up) as they re-shoot again. It would be worth it in the long run to cut back your hedge to gain access to carry out this process. That is if it is a hedge which will re-shoot and re-grow.

Even so bramble will need several applications of this type to achieve the desired
effect. You may find the first application of round up will just yellow the weed.

crosstownk · Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:41 am Post subject:

Thanks verge,

I know there is no simple solution to my woes. I'll try and ID the shrubs/bushes/hedges that are being invaded by the brambles and maybe you can tell me how quick they will grow back. That way I'll have know if its worthwhile to attempt to get at the roots. I'll try and get photos over the weekend.

I'm by no means an expert gardener but I'm willing to learn whats necessary to maintain the small garden I have so any advice will be more than appreciated.

Thanks again,

crosstownk

PS - Freaky but cool avatar btw!!

crosstownk · Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 9:50 pm Post subject:

Ok - I done the deed with round up on most of them and the brambles are retreating - so far.

The bush they are gowing through is an Italian Skies (Ceanothus) which I'm led to believe is not one too trimback to much.

The next problem is that there is a Blackbird's nest in the Ceanothus that I don't want to disturb. Maybe I'll crawl under and snip the stems and spray Round Up on the stem. I have a liquid brushwood killer but I reckon that will kill practically everything.

Any further advice?

Thanks

crosstownk

BlackBird · Silver Birch Tree Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 171

Just remember that roundup only works if applied to the green leaf of the bramble, not the stem. Your best bet is to snip the bramble low down, let it grow a leaf/leaves at that point, then paint on the roundup or brushwood killer.