How to Kill a Blackberry Bush

Overview

Blackberries are, indeed, delicious and make excellent pies, jams or tasty treats all on their own. Yet, the bush itself can become an unwelcome intruder that spreads and takes over large amounts of your yard or garden. While ridding yourself of a blackberry bush takes persistence, it can be done, either manually or with the aid of herbicides. No matter which method your choose, you'll have the most success if you plan your blackberry bush removal in the spring.

Manual Removal

Step 1

Cut vines to the ground. Using pruning shears, cut back all the large blackberry vines to ground level.

Step 2

Mow the area. Use your lawn mower to cut down any remaining, smaller vines. Repeat this process whenever new growth emerges from the ground, until the roots no longer produce new shoots.

Step 3

Plant grass seed. An effective way to choke out new blackberry growth is to plant grass seed in the area.

Step 4

Cover the area. If you wish to use the newly cleared space as a garden, cover the area with landscaping fabric, which will inhibit new vine growth.

Using Herbicide

Step 1

Mix the herbicide according to the product directions. Place the mixed herbicide into a sprayer.

Step 2

Spray the blackberry bush. Begin spraying into the middle of the blackberry bush, saturating the leaves with the herbicide.

Step 3

Continue spraying. Once the inner leaves of the bush are sprayed, apply the herbicide to the outer leaves of the bush.