Brambles are driving me bonkers

[mammyknowsbest]

I have very very tall hedges running the full length of my back garden.
I have just cut them back as they were becoming quite wild. Throughout the hedges are huge thick brambles. We have used the blackberries from these in the past but really need to get rid of them as they seem to be taking over the garden. I have trimmed them but how do I get rid of them forever!!!!.
I can't get to the roots as they are entangled in the hedges. I'm sick of getting scratches and cuts from the bloody things. Please help !!!!
As you are probably quessing I'm not that green fingered

If you really want to get rid of them then I think the only way to do it properly is to find the point/s where they coming out of the ground, cut off low as possible, and then (wearing gloves!) drag the long tendrils out. This will not be a nice job!

Alternatively, employ a local gardener to come and do the deed, they can also then take away the remains and probably apply a herbicide to the stumps of the bramble.

Thanks Heb. The bloody things are all over my garden. I should have muscles like Arnie when I'm finished.
Thanks again for the advice.

Ah, if they are in great mounds of vegetation, then it may need a bit more then I first wrote.

You will need to attack the outer edge of the mound with something drastic, like a strimmer / brushcutter.

If you do truly have a large amount of vegetation to tackle, and can afford to have someone in for half a day then I'd go down that route I think. It might cost up to £100* but worth all the scratches you won't have!

• • complete guess, worth a phone call?

Our entire back garden was 8 foot high in brambles when we moved in. After several abortive attempts at trying to dig them out (only to have constant regrowth) the only thing to kill the buggers was to cut them down, then continually spray the regrowth throughout the year. We got rid of them, eventually, in about 2 years.

On the root stumps that we could get to and that weren't near any other plants, we used an ammonium sulphate solution (e.g. something like Tough Weed Killer) but be aware that this has a residual effect in the soil for up to 3 months.

If you have brambles within a hedge you would need to use a glyphosate based weedkiller - this will kill any plant with which it is in direct contact but it is rendered ineffective when in contact with the soil so shouldn't affect other plants in the area so long as you don't spray their leaves.

You really need to use glyphosate. It's a systemic weedkiller which goes through the system of the plant and kills at the roots. It will kill anything it touches though so best to dab or paint it onto the stems. All diy stores sell it. Own brand is cheaper and works as well. I used it over several months to get rid of three Rhus trees we had which the people who owned our house previously had planted next to the foundations. Not gardeners I think! This plant is well known for being able to send suckers up through concrete. It was already destroying the pavement outside. We chopped the trees down and every time a saw a sucker or a root I dabbed it with glyphosate. Not been seen since.

Yeah but hey who cares about the birds,butterflies etc? Why is it so difficult to live with the brambles and the fruit that you say is nice?
it's quite good for security as well as no one can get through your hedge, make it PART of your hedge and keep it trimmed nicely i'm not advocating total anarchy just a more thoughtful total approach to our world.