Where do brambles grow?
Brambles grow almost anywhere in the UK. Some of the most common places to find them are in woodlands, hedgerows, gardens and roadside verges. The plants thrive in acidic soils.
How do brambles spread?
The bramble plant can spread in many different ways. Firstly brambles can regenerate from fragments of the root and stem therefore if you were to pull them out and you left even the smallest fragment of root behind, there is a chance that it would produce a whole new plant itself. Another way in which brambles spread is through the digestive system of birds.
When is the best time to control brambles, broom and gorse?
When controlling brambles it is best that weed killers are applied during the growing season of the plant, from spring until autumn. Ideally spring (March, April, May) is best as this is when the plants is actively growing allowing the weed killer to circulate around the plant easily. The plant leaves are also fresh and soft which enables the weed killer to penetrate to leaves more easily and be taken into the bramble plant. If you have missed this timing do not worry as you will still get results later in the season, it is just that spring gives you the best opportunity for the optimum control.
How do I get rid of bramble roots?
Using a systemic weed killer is the best solution to controlling bramble roots. These are weed killers that generally contain glyphosate or triclopyr - some of which we have listed below. When the weed killer is applied, it moves around in the plant translocating down into the roots and in turn killing the plant. Once dead, you will then need to carefully remove the plant and roots without leaving any behind.
How to clear brambles after treatment?
Once treatment has been applied to the bramble plants, you will need to wait until the weed killer has killed the plant – this can be anything from 7 – 21 days depending on weather conditions – the longer you can leave the weed killer to work the better results you will see. After this you will be able to start to remove the plant ensuring that nothing is left behind as any small fragment can reproduce a new plant from itself. Correct disposal of brambles is key. They should not be left in a pile as they can potentially re-root creating another bramble bush from this. If you were wanting to compost the plants, they need be bagged and left to rot down fully at which point they can be added to the compost or alternatively the plant should be burnt ensuring that there is no way it can regrow.
How can you stop brambles growing back?
In order to stop the brambles from growing back you will need to firstly apply a weed killer and allow the plant to completely die. Once this has happened you can then dig out all of the roots to prevent grow back. It is essential that you do not leave any fragment of root behind as this could create a new plant from it. If you leave the ground bare you will be at risk of reinfestation so it is recommended either to replant the area with desired plants, over seed or gravel the area to reduce the risk or brambles and weeds re-growing. If you definitely do not want any form of vegetation you can keep plant growth away for up to six months by using a residual weed killer.
