blackberry pest

Roundup put on the green leaves when they are actively growing ( spring/summer ) is the remedy we always used. It takes a while before it dies, but this stuff goes right down into the roots. No good cutting the branches away first, because it has to be applied on the green leaves. Good luck, they are a BIG pest here too!

Cheapest method, as long as you do not want to plant in that area for at least a few months, would be to salt them.

Jess, thank you for that. I used salt to get rid of daisies in part of my front lawn last year. It worked a treat, although the lawn had brown patches through to mid spring this year. I didn't think salt would be strong enough to eliminate brambles but I shall give it a go on the brambles at the bottom of Paul's garden (when we have harvested the blackberries of course) where he intends to put his garage/workshop..

You may need more than one application for it to be effective. Add the salt to water and water it in to make sure it reaches the roots. Salt will kill most anything as long as it it applied often enough. Just think seaside. Problem is it does stay in the soil for a long time so nothing else can be planted for months. I only use it to clear scrub areas, never in a border. It is not an organic method as such but better than chemicals IMO.

I agree ..... must try it on the ground elder too :-D
Tesco's biggest bag of salt has gone on my shopping list !