blackberry roots

hi. i,m new to gardeners corner. what a great site! can anyone out there tell me how to get rid of blackberry bush roots? doing up my garden and had to get rid of a blackberry bush that had grown wild, but the roots are still there!!! cheers

 

hi. i,m new to gardeners corner. what a great site! can anyone out there tell me how to get rid of blackberry bush roots? doing up my garden and had to get rid of a blackberry bush that had grown wild, but the roots are still there!!! cheers

 

Hi cherokeechick, you can either dig roots out, or you can use a root killer [eg root-out]. As you've got kids, perhaps try the digging and forking first? They are very persistent but I've found that if you get most of the main system out, the rest will rot. If they won't come out easily, dig as deep as you can and then use a small saw to cut through the root..

 

Hi cherokeechick, you can either dig roots out, or you can use a root killer [eg root-out]. As you've got kids, perhaps try the digging and forking first? They are very persistent but I've found that if you get most of the main system out, the rest will rot. If they won't come out easily, dig as deep as you can and then use a small saw to cut through the root..

 

Good advice Liz, digging out will reduce chance of regrowth and any that does will be easier to deal with. A fork is better than a spade as the roots tend to remain in longer pieces and you get more of it out. By digging, you will also aerate the soil and sweeten it. For large areas take it bit at a time and don't allow any remaining overgrown areas to seed. Hoe, cut down or burn off before flowers set.

An old method of really cleaning soil after first cultivation is to plant potatoes. Banking up and harvesting really move the soil about and their leaves help cut off the light to emerging weeds.

You can use chemicals,(eg. Nettlex Brushwood Killer) but they kill everything that grows and you still have to cultivate the soil.

 

Good advice Liz, digging out will reduce chance of regrowth and any that does will be easier to deal with. A fork is better than a spade as the roots tend to remain in longer pieces and you get more of it out. By digging, you will also aerate the soil and sweeten it. For large areas take it bit at a time and don't allow any remaining overgrown areas to seed. Hoe, cut down or burn off before flowers set.

An old method of really cleaning soil after first cultivation is to plant potatoes. Banking up and harvesting really move the soil about and their leaves help cut off the light to emerging weeds.

You can use chemicals,(eg. Nettlex Brushwood Killer) but they kill everything that grows and you still have to cultivate the soil.