Brambles
Prevent brambles from spreading in your garden, by following our expert tips.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to act | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
These quick-growing plants are able to spread rapidly to create dense, thorny thickets of stems, which are able to root at the tips. The plants produce blackberry fruits, which contain seeds that can grow into new plants. The tough roots are able to grow again when the stems are cut down.
Dealing with brambles is easier than you might think. Find out how to get rid of brambles and keep them at bay for good, in this Quick Tips video with Jamie Butterworth:
Symptoms
Spreading thickets of thorny, woody growth, which compete with cultivated plants for light, water and nutrients.
Find it on
freshly-cultivated ground, established borders, undisturbed ground, old walls, cracks in paving
Organic
Cut back stems and dig out roots thoroughly. Pull out seedlings and young plants before they become established and spread.
Chemical
Cut back stems of established plants, and treat the regrowth in spring and summer with brushwood killer. Treat the foliage of seedlings and young plants with a systemic herbicide, which will kill the roots as well as the top growth.
Christmas offer
Gift a subscription to BBC Gardeners' World magazine and save 51% on the shop price.
Year Planner 2025 on sale
Starting to plan your gardening year? The Year Planner 2025 is packed with expert advice from the Gardeners’ World team, to ensure you have your best gardening year yet.
New podcast series
Join Monty and the team for advice on winter gardening, tulips, caring for birds, house plants and more in the new BBC Gardeners' World Magazine podcast series.
