Blackthorn and brambles

[Stonewaller]

The bottom of my garden is a strip 6-8' wide by about 40' long of brambles and blackthorn scrub. My neighbours helpfully chopped most of it down for me 2 years ago, but as I have no access to either a skip or a vehicle for taking it all to the tip it took me the best part of a year to dispose of it all via 2 green bins and a couple of bonfires. So it's all growing back and the blackthorn is suckering through the lawn......

I can't get any machinery into the garden to dig up the stumps and the ground is a solid mass of roots so digging with a spade is not easy (for me anyway), the blackthorn in the lawn is controlled by mowing and I have no idea what I will do when it gets into the raised beds, but can I chop the whole lot down to ground level again a bit at a time to allow for disposal and then cover it with weed suppressing fabric? I was intending to get the heavy duty black stuff, leaving it on for a year and then digging the ground over with plenty of manure and compost, but having mentioned it to my neighbour I've been given some of the lightweight woven grey stuff. Will that work double thickness or will the brambles and blackthorn get through it?

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

[rustylady]

The only way I've found with brambles is to dig the roots out. Do you want to get rid of the whole lot, or just tidy it up?

Must confess it sounds like an ideal fedge to me - Blackberries and sloes - although I can see that you do need to control it.

I didn't know blackthorn produced suckers

[Stonewaller]

My garden is surrounded on 3 sides by other gardens and the owners get a bit stroppy about "my" brambles coming through the fences into their gardens (and those who aren't affected by them dislike the look....), so it definitely needs to be a lot more under control than it is now.

The brambles are cultivated ones planted by a previous occupant and while they have lovely large fruit, there's a distinct lack of flavour. I'd really like to get rid of all of them as there's a massive amnt of space I could use for additional veg beds, I've probably underestimated exactly how much space is taken up by them as I've been told by my brother who has an allotment that the space I have allocated for veg beds (presently 20 sqm) plus the scrub area is equivalent to half an allotment and I should have no problems growing enough veg for 2 people just from my back garden assuming we don't want masses of spuds.

The blackthorn just looks slightly untidy, my main problem with it is the fact it is suckering and some of the stumps are miles away from the fence. It has 3 varieties of honeysuckle growing through it, perhaps with the addition of something like Virginia creeper it could possibly be made to look nice year round. It does need to be trimmed as the fence is only 5' high at that point and a couple of the bungalows behind are only 6' from the fence so the blackthorn never gets the opportunity to produce sloes.

[veggiechicken]

Hello Stonewaller and Welcome to the Forum
I'm sorry to say that I think its a cut it all down and dig it up scenario! I'm digging out brambles at the moment so I know what a painful job it is - and sloes will be just the same I don't think you'll stop either of them with membrane, although you may slow them up! Brambles here grow through hessian backed carpet and spread beneath thick black plastic.

[northepaul]

What are the neighbours who dont like to look at it, going to do about it then? Are they gonna help you sort it out so they dont have to look anymore?


I agree it probably needs some maintenance but I would look at it as an opportunity rather than a nuisence - free sloes and blackberries!

[Stonewaller]

OK, so you all seem to be saying dig them out. I have a spade and a fork plus loppers and a saw for chopping them down to ground level. Is there anything else I should get that would make things easier?

[veggiechicken]

Heavy duty gloves!! Cut them down to about a foot, so that you can grip the brambles and may be able to tug them out. Where they've tip-rooted, you can usually pull them out if the ground is wet. Its surprising how much clearer it looks when those are out!

[Aberdeenplotter]

Is there anything else I should get that would make things easier?

a couple of friends to help?

[lottie dolly]

we had loads on our lottie,previousely reclaimed from 20+ years neglect,DH dug well down with a little digger,and got out all the big gnawled up roots,but still the Beeezz come up,we get them all over our plots,the secret is,to keep hacking them of,and digging any bigger ones out the best you can,the ones that pull out fairly easy,are usually attatched to a bigger root below,the only way to hold them back and thus stop them re rooting themselves,is to keep chopping back,then when you see where the main roots are,is to digg out as much as you can,1 by 1,if you cut the long length up into smaller bits,put into a spare dustbin,you can either take the tip,or burn them,am afraid it's going to mean a commitement,and hard work,just have your eye on them new raised beds,

[Stonewaller]

I'll try digging everything out, brambles by themselves I think wouldn't be so much of a problem but both the blackthorn and the brambles are growing together so the entire space is a mat of blackthorn roots just below the surface. I don't have anyone to help so all the digging has to be done by me and I have cerebral palsy so my muscles aren't as strong as they should be. If I leave any roots in and they rot will this cause a problem subsequently in terms of what I can grow there? I'm thinking fungus growing on the rotting wood, but presumably it would only affect (some) root veg?

[Aberdeenplotter]

Stonewaller, really sorry there isn't anyone you can call on to help and that you physically aren't able to do the work yourself. If I was in your area,I'd be for trying to organise a group dig out of the roots for you.

Since I'm not, My best suggestion is to use chemicals and you will find a ready to use brushwood killer here.
Growing Success Bramble Killer Ultra Ready To Use 1L: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

not sure whether that leaves any residue that willprevent vegetables growing so do your research before using.. That stuffis probably available in local garden centres so you should be able to access the information there.

[lottie dolly]

Thank you for explaining your situation SW,that puts a very different light on things,is there a charity/council help,or a body of people,that if you were to inform them of what your needs are,could help you in some way,ask at the library or DR surgery if there are any help available,so sorry i cannot be of any more help to you,but hope help can be got your way,

[ramsey7]

By far the easiest and quickest way is to spray them with a herbicide. A Product called Broadshot is probably the best around. Search broadshot 1L in google to find a stockist