How to (Actually) Get Rid of Himalayan Blackberries
Cutting them back doesn't cut it. Here's the real strategy for reclaiming your yard from blackberry.
Himalayan blackberry is the most aggressive invasive plant in our region, and the reason every neighborhood has at least one yard with a thicket eating the back fence. Most homeowners try to cut it back and give up after it bounces right back.
Here's the truth: cutting alone won't do it. Blackberry regenerates from root crowns and underground runners. To actually reclaim the area, you have to attack the root.
Step one is heavy cutting back of all the canes, clearing the area so you can see and access the ground.
Step two is digging out the root crowns. This is the most important step. Where access allows, we dig out the woody crown that connects all the canes. Without that, the plant comes right back.
Step three is follow-up. Even with thorough digging, runners and missed crowns will send up new shoots. Cutting those new shoots back as soon as they appear, for one full season, exhausts the plant's reserves and finishes the job.
The result: a reclaimed corner of your yard ready for grass, a garden, or new landscaping. Worth every minute of the work.