Re: Brambles
I'm not sure what species you are calling 'brambles', but I can tell you the
method we used quite successfully in removing large areas of Rubus discolor (we
call it Himalayan Blackberry) in a public nature reserve in interior northern
California, in a climate probably fairly similar. It was growing in and among
many native species that we did not want to kill including Aristolochia, Vitis,
Quercus, Sambucus, and various native grasses such as Elymus and Melica.
The first step was to cut the existing vegetation to the ground or nearly so. A
weedeater with brush blade works. A small chain saw works. And just a pair of
'felcos' and a few hours of indiscriminate clipping can clear more area than
one would ever suspect. The native plants we were worried about saving all
sprout well from the base, so if some of them got cut it did not matter. The
best time to do this, it turned out, was September through about November, but
it was successful at any time of year. Less damage was done to the other
vegetation with the fall cut back.
The Rubus of course resprouts quickly. When the Rubus sprouts were about 6 to
8 inches long (15 to 20 cm), we went out with a back pack sprayer and using low
pressure (to avoid small droplets and unnecessary drift) sprayed a formulation
of Triclopyr. In the winter we were able to use the ester form, but when the
air is at all warm or other plants have active growth, the amine form (triethyl
amine salt) is by far better. We added a blue dye to see where we'd been, and
just were as careful as possible to only get it on the berry sprouts. This
minimized the amount of chemical, and the area that it affected. Usually there
was a little resprouting that required a quick trip through the area again in a
couple or three weeks. The stuff is amazingly effective on berries (and on
poison oak, incidentally).
Triclopyr has a very low toxicity (much like glyphosate) and is not
persistent. It functions like the auxin type herbicides, and grasses and
sedges are barely affected.
When cut in the fall, the berries sprouted earlier in the spring than just
about anything else, so it was easy to spray just them and not get it on other
plants' leaves. We were able to have rampant native vegetation without Rubus in
one season. It was amazing how the natives bounced back when the competition
was removed.
I don't want to sound like an herbicide salesman, but there are now low
toxicity, non-persistent chemicals out there that when used judiciously can be
extremely useful.
Gary Matson, Far northern California
Charles Butler wrote:
> I would appreciate hearing suggestions regarding the control of rampant
> brambles, specifically, if it makes any difference, in south central Spain.
> The locals recommend using a very strong and utterly indiscriminate
> herbicide, but I have an inherent distrust of the Mediterranean belief in
> chemical panaceas. Digging is probably out of the question, given the size
> of the property and the extent of the problem.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Charles Butler
> Crta. de Burunchel, s/n
> La Iruela 23476
> Jaen, Spain
> <chb@interlog.com>
