Getting rid of Greenbriar
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Getting rid of Greenbriar
I have thickets of what I think is Greenbriar along some borders, which looks like this right now:
Usually you see it in the woods where the deer hang out. I don't recall it having leaves.
Does anyone have any idea how to kill it? I've seen several recommendations from 41% glyphosate sprayed on the leaves and stems, to cutting, followed by triclopyr brushed into the cuts, to just cutting over and over until eventual death (hopefully). I don't think glyphosate works on plants without leaves, so not sure if that method works...any help would be a godsend. I hate this stuff, as the thorn pierce through thick leather gloves!
The roots go on forever, and it's hard to find the bulb.
Usually you see it in the woods where the deer hang out. I don't recall it having leaves.
Does anyone have any idea how to kill it? I've seen several recommendations from 41% glyphosate sprayed on the leaves and stems, to cutting, followed by triclopyr brushed into the cuts, to just cutting over and over until eventual death (hopefully). I don't think glyphosate works on plants without leaves, so not sure if that method works...any help would be a godsend. I hate this stuff, as the thorn pierce through thick leather gloves!
The roots go on forever, and it's hard to find the bulb.
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Re: Getting rid of Greenbriar
Okay, I’ve noticed about 30 looks but no replies and I’ll do it.
Everyone’s thinking it soooo...sweet mother almighty. That stuff looks like hell.
Does it pop up from multiple stems? I don’t see much foliage. Glyphosate, I think, doesn’t work as well on stems as leaves. Cut stems though might be an option. If it were me, I’d take hedge clippers, my mower called Crusher, or loppers and physically remove as much as possible mechanically. I’d mulch it with my lawn mower and bag up debris. Then I’d find the cut stems coming out of the ground and apply glyphosate or a vine killer. I’d also keep spray on hand to hit anything that pops back up.
I hope someone else has a better idea. Maybe there’s a spray for vines that will wipe it out?
Everyone’s thinking it soooo...sweet mother almighty. That stuff looks like hell.
Does it pop up from multiple stems? I don’t see much foliage. Glyphosate, I think, doesn’t work as well on stems as leaves. Cut stems though might be an option. If it were me, I’d take hedge clippers, my mower called Crusher, or loppers and physically remove as much as possible mechanically. I’d mulch it with my lawn mower and bag up debris. Then I’d find the cut stems coming out of the ground and apply glyphosate or a vine killer. I’d also keep spray on hand to hit anything that pops back up.
I hope someone else has a better idea. Maybe there’s a spray for vines that will wipe it out?
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- Posts: 135
- Joined: October 24th, 2019, 11:43 am
- Location: Reading, MA
- Grass Type: TTTF/KBG Blend
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Re: Getting rid of Greenbriar
Thank you for your reply. Yes, the stuff is awful. The thorns are 3/4"-1" long and literally the sharpest thorns I have ever encountered. Like I said, right through thick leather gloves. Instead of just grabbing it, I have to slide in the direction the thorn grows as I grab to minimize the penetration. But your arms still get torn to shreds through thick long sleeves when it inevitably wraps itself around you.JHazzardB wrote: ↑April 7th, 2020, 7:33 pmOkay, I’ve noticed about 30 looks but no replies and I’ll do it.
Everyone’s thinking it soooo...sweet mother almighty. That stuff looks like hell.
Does it pop up from multiple stems? I don’t see much foliage. Glyphosate, I think, doesn’t work as well on stems as leaves. Cut stems though might be an option. If it were me, I’d take hedge clippers, my mower called Crusher, or loppers and physically remove as much as possible mechanically. I’d mulch it with my lawn mower and bag up debris. Then I’d find the cut stems coming out of the ground and apply glyphosate or a vine killer. I’d also keep spray on hand to hit anything that pops back up.
I hope someone else has a better idea. Maybe there’s a spray for vines that will wipe it out?
When you pull at what appears to be the base, the thing goes on forever underground, and connect to other upshoots. There is a bulb somewhere, but they are not easy to find. I've already cut the stuff off at the base and am removing what I can manually. It grows into trees and bushes and destroys them. I'll take a picture tomorrow of an evergreen that it has completely deformed. When it gets in the trees and bushes, you have to rip it out and hope you don't destroy what ypu are trying to save, which is pretty difficult. I am hoping to find a one and done solution!
- andy10917
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Re: Getting rid of Greenbriar
Ummm, good luck with that.I am hoping to find a one and done solution!
I've never fought it, but a friend that has successfully beaten it says that he cut off the weed 12" above the soil and continually (weekly) painted the remaining stems with a mix of equal parts of Ortho Clover, Chickweed and OXalis Killer (8% Triclopyr) and water, until he outlasted the plant's reserves. Far from one-and-done...
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Re: Getting rid of Greenbriar
We eliminated it promptly and successfully by digging when we moved to TX from IL back in 1984, but the soil was pure sand (easy to dig), and there wasn't any vegetation of value on the new-construction property besides the trees. Just all greenbrier, poison oak, Texas bullnettle (evil!), sandbur, prickly pear, and a few tumbleweeds. Fun stuff.
If I were to deal with it here in MA with an established landscape, I would absolutely reach for triclopyr before anything else. Either paint the leaves if they're not intertwined with other vegetation or cut the stems like Andy mentioned, paint the stems, and get a good soaking into the cut ends. I've had far greater success using triclopyr than glyphosate on woody plants.
https://extension.uga.edu/publications/ ... Greenbrier
If I were to deal with it here in MA with an established landscape, I would absolutely reach for triclopyr before anything else. Either paint the leaves if they're not intertwined with other vegetation or cut the stems like Andy mentioned, paint the stems, and get a good soaking into the cut ends. I've had far greater success using triclopyr than glyphosate on woody plants.
https://extension.uga.edu/publications/ ... Greenbrier
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- Posts: 135
- Joined: October 24th, 2019, 11:43 am
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- Grass Type: TTTF/KBG Blend
- Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
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Re: Getting rid of Greenbriar
Thank you to everyone. It does seem like based on what I have read elsewhere, and the advice offered here, that triclopyr is the best bet. See you in three years!
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