Having Blackberry Problems?

Here's a little information on those pesky, yard invading blackberries.

What's interesting about blackberries is the roots are perennial but the canes are biennial, meaning they grow one year and flower and form fruit the following. As you probably know, they spread rapidly. The reasoning is because (a.) they send out underground runners and (b.) birds eat the berries and spread the seeds wherever they darn well please.


The best way to approach this is pulling out all of the young plants in Spring, before the feeder roots can develop. If the plants get to be matured, then cut them back during the summer growing season, simply because they are easier to work with and dispose of when they're fresh, as oppose to dry. When doing this, make sure you wear heavy gloves (or you'll witness first hand how sharp those thorns really are.) It's also recommended that you use a pick and a shovel to up as many roots as possible.