How to Get Control of Brambles

Brambles spread quickly and can be hard to remove for good. Learn how to control brambles, when to treat for best results, and how to reduce regrowth long term.

Key Facts

Areas affected: woodlands, hedgerows, gardens, scrubland, waste ground, roadside verges
Timing: Late Spring to Autumn

Controlling Brambles

Controlling and getting rid of brambles is one of those jobs that seems like a lot of hard, dangerous work but in reality can be achieved fairly quickly and simply.

What are Brambles?

Brambles are often little more than overgrown blackberries – also in this family of Rubus plants are: Raspberry, Boysenberry, Loganberry and Tayberry.

Identifying Brambles

Bramble stems can be upright or prostrate along the ground but left to its own devices the thick, spiky stems will curl and twist amongst each other to form an increasingly tall impenetrable barrier. The stems are thick walled with a soft centre with sharp spines or spikes dotted along its length. Brambles are woody, herbaceous perennials and will grow from an established root system in the ground. Older stems will lose colour gradually from a greeny/ purple and become fibrous or woody and more brown in colour. Their flowers are a good source of nectar energy for hoverflies, butterflies and some moth species.

Control Methods

These quick growing plants can outgrow their space quickly and bramble control needs to be planned in advance. The extensive root system make digging out a job for the JCB digger. Brambles can be cut back to a low lying stalk of approx. 3-4”/ 10cm and waiting for a few sets of new, green leaves and controlling with a with a weed killer for brambles. If cutting back is too hard a job, then brambles can still be controlled by spraying when the new growth is young and fresh generally in spring. The best weed killer to use to control brambles usually contains active ingredients such as glyphosate or triclopyr- as these are ideal for woody weeds – but remember always read the label before applying. The weed killer chosen will depend on whether you want to keep any surrounding grass or plants.

Bramble FAQs

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.

How to Kill Brambles, Broom and Gorse

Weed Killer for Brambles, Broom and Gorse

The choices for a bramble killer are either a selective spray (to save any grass) or a total weed killer which can affect any green-leaved plant the spray touches. All options, below, degrade quickly in the soil so offer no long-term damage to the ecosystem.

As with all weed killers, we recommend wearing full PPE while applying the following products. To view our full range, click here.

Selective Treatment - Grazon Pro This is perhaps the strongest bramble killer

Suitable for grassland / paddock areas
Apply by Knapsack Sprayer
Thoroughly wet leaves to the point of runoff
Safe for grass
For Amenity areas see: Icade
For an amateur use product see: SBK Brushwood Killer

Total Weed Killer - Glyphosate (Roundup ProActive, Roundup ProVantage, Gallup Biograde, Gallup Hi Aktiv)

Spray foliage to the point of runoff
Best used in conjunction with an adjuvant: Validate, which makes the spray more efficient by sticking to the leaf and penetrating the thick leaf surface quicker
For an amateur use product see: Gallup Home & Garden