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Spray for Killing Blackberries
Spray for Killing Blackberries. Often considered a noxious weed, wild blackberry brambles (Rubus sp.) create impenetrable thickets. The blackberry bushes threaten riparian habitats with their vigorous growth rate. They also grow rapidly at the edge of forests where they choke out other plant life. The brambles spring up rapidly in disturbed sites...
Often considered a noxious weed, wild blackberry brambles (Rubus sp.) create impenetrable thickets. The blackberry bushes threaten riparian habitats with their vigorous growth rate. They also grow rapidly at the edge of forests where they choke out other plant life. The brambles spring up rapidly in disturbed sites along fence lines, roadsides and construction areas. The blackberries vigorous growth rate makes control difficult and may require spraying.
Types
Both native and introduced blackberries often become aggressive weeds. The native varieties thimbleberry (R. parviflorus) and California blackberry (R. ursinus) compete with native conifers and erode riparian habitats. The non-native cutleaf blackberry (R. laciniatus) and Himalaya blackberry (R. discolor) show the same aggression when they escape cultivation. All varieties respond to repeated spray control methods.
Herbicide Choices
Foliage-applied translocated herbicides that contain triclopyr and glyphosate offer effective control when applied in the spring.The canes should stand approximately three to four feet in height. Apply the herbicides to large blackberry brambles later in the spring or early summer as the flowering season winds down and the canes begin to produce green berries. Use a herbicide that contains at least 41 percent glyphosate as its active ingredient for excellent control, according to the University of California's website.
Application Timing
Apply the herbicide when the soil around the plant is moist. The plant's foliage should be completely saturated to achieve the best results. An early application of spray herbicides often successfully kills the plant's top growth, but during the summer months it will regrow and will require a second herbicide spray application. If the herbicide cannot be applied in the spring months, wait until fall and the seasonal rains arrive.
Considerations
Herbicide spray applications that contain dicamba and dicamba/2,4-D combinations often prove effective at late season control. Herbicide sprays that contain only 2,4-D are rarely successful at killing blackberries. After spraying with herbicides, the berries should never be harvested and consumed. Always use a low pressure spray nozzle to help prevent droplet drift to neighboring ornamentals or native plants.
