How do you get rid of blackberry vines naturally?

Question:

Hardiness Zone: 9a

Pam from Anderson, CA

Answer:

First of all, kudos to you for trying to find some natural solutions to your Blackberry problems. One thing you need to understand about Blackberry vines is that they don't respond to control methods in the same way that many other vines do. In other words, they don't respond to "tough love." Mowing them, cutting them or burning them only encourages the growth of suckers. In fact, the more you beat blackberry vines up the stronger they get. The key to your chemical-free success will come in the form of persistence. Outlast the blackberries and victory will be yours!

The best natural means of control is repeat tilling. Start by cutting the vines back down to the ground. Try to locate as many of the root balls as possible and dig them out. Follow this up with 10" of wood chip mulch. The mulch will block out the light and help prevent any seeds from sprouting. Over time, sprouts will invariably emerge through the mulch. When they do, till them under. Without leaves to produce food the roots will eventually starve and die. Tilling will fragment the roots and stems and cause them to re-sprout in other locations, so repeating this process several times may be necessary (this is the persistence part). Depending on how many vines you need to eradicate, you may be able to breathe a sigh of relief after a 2-3 years. A good time to start this project is in April.

Good Luck!
Ellen

About The Author:
Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com

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