the bramble
Common bramble, not to be confused with the mulberry that you can buy commercially, is a thorny shrub which, in its natural state, grows on the edge of forests, in clearings, along paths, etc., but which also invades land when it is not maintained.
In gardens, it tends to grow near hedgesbut as its aerial stems, or lianas, have a rapid growth, they can wind up on whole meters and create a whole thorny network in the hedge concerned, which does not really make the happiness of the gardener. However, nature being well made, the bramble counts many advantages and has an undeniable positive impact on the environment.
- Brambles have a defensive role : in the wild, their thorny vines protect the nests of the birds that have taken up residence there. They can play the same role in your garden by keeping certain predators away.
- They serve as pantry : the birds are very fond of the blackberries they offer at the end of summer. And U.S. too !
- They contribute to biodiversity : their small white or slightly pink flowers are very melliferous and are a delight for auxiliary pollinators such as bees, butterflies, etc..
For all these reasons, you can choose to keep some in certain areas of your garden, for example to take advantage of their wild blackberries. But beware, know that a square meter of brambles can produce several thousand seeds that will scatter everywhere.
When to get rid of brambles?
Because brambles produce many seeds and the stems tend to layer, getting rid of them is a long process, but with a regular maintenance of your garden throughout the year, you will achieve it. The best times to clean up your land are late fall and winter because they correspond to when your garden is at rest, which gives you more free time to devote to this type of activity.
What there is to know
the clearing regularity of the ground, makes it possible to limit their development.
Remember that brambles are thorny shrubs, therefore, equip yourself with sturdy and thick gloves, as some of the spines are very sharp. This will prevent you from injuring or cutting yourself.
To remove brambles, you will need a shears allowing you to cut them low to the ground, which is important otherwise, they are likely to multiply. You will also need a stump cutter.
Weeding brambles naturally
It is possible to get rid of brambles without resorting to herbicides which are harmful to you and the environment. We offer you to discover different solutions.
Manual weeding
- 1st technique : by arming yourself with a good dose of patience and after having equipped yourself with protective gloves and a very sharp shears, you just have to cut the vines, the branches down to ground level. Once the aerial part has been cut, pull on the stump to extract it from the ground. You can also help yourself with a pickaxe. Then watch to intervene as soon as new shoots appear.
- 2nd technique : if the bramble is still young, try to pull it out by hand. Nevertheless, you risk getting tired doing this and not succeeding in removing it from the ground. It is possible to use a root extractor to move forward more simply. It is recommended to turn the soil beforehand.
Consider the annoying tendency of the bramble to produce seeds and layer itself, so get rid of everything you have cut and torn without delay, at the risk of having worked unnecessarily.
Nettle infusions
L’nettle naturally weeds. For this, you can prepare a nettle infusion or nettle manure. In both cases, this solution is effective in overcoming brambles.
Nettle tea:
- In a container (preferably metal), place 1 kg of nettles.
- Pour 20 liters of water over the nettles.
- Leave to macerate for about two weeks.
- It is important to mix every day.
Your natural weed killer is ready and all you have to do is pour it on the stumps. If you prefer to make a nettle slurry, this solution is also effective although the smell is nauseating.
Salt
At first, cut the brambles at ground level with a sharp pruner or a brushcutter if the surface to be treated is large. Once the stump has been exposed, cover it with coarse salt. She will thus weaken and choke. Don’t forget to eliminate everything you have cut as soon as possible.
Baking soda and white vinegar
To get rid of brambles, you can also use white vinegar with baking soda.
To do this :
- Mix 1 kg of baking soda in 200 ml of white vinegar and 5 liters of water.
- You can then spray the resulting mixture on the stumps to make them dry and rot.
- They can then be uprooted easily.
It is also possible to use white vinegar simply diluted in water. This so-called contact weed killer does not act on the roots, but only on the heights of your brambles. However, be careful not to use vinegar excessively because it could acidify your soil.
cooking water
Whether it be cooking water for potatoes or pasta, you can use it on brambles to get rid of them. To do this, simply pour this liquid directly on the brambles while it is still very hot. The starch present in this water makes it an effective natural weed killer.
Angelica manure
This herbaceous plant grows on sunny days and is a proven natural weed killer.
To prepare the purin, you can proceed as follows:
- Cut 1 kg of angelica leaves;
- Pour over 10 liters of water;
- Leave to macerate for 7 to 10 days;
- Filter the mixture;
- Spray the preparation on the feet of the brambles;
- When the brambles are dry, you can remove them easily.
Limit the proliferation of brambles
After getting rid of the brambles, you are not finished yet, because it is important to continue to act so as not to see them return:
- If, in the space they had invested, you want to make a garden, it is better to start with to plow to remove as many roots as possible.
- Thereafter, do not relax the monitoring and tear out the brambles as soon as you see it. After a while, you should be completely rid of it.
- It is also recommended toinstall a mulch. It can be with wood bark, dead leaves, wood shavings, straw, etc. You will thus limit, as much as possible, the return of brambles and your plants will appreciate the humidity offered by the presence of mulching, insofar as it prevents water evaporation.