New vegetable plot full of brambles

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New vegetable plot full of brambles

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Kirstie

Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 94
Location: Scotland

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 05 8:14 pm Post subject: New vegetable plot full of brambles

Hi, can anyone help me with some form of weed killer, preferably natural that will kill brambles, I have a large 'future' vegetable plot that was full of brambles, I have cut these down and now need something to kill the roots to stop them growing back.

The problem I have is that currently there are goats, ducks, hens and a multitude of other animals going through there and I evidently don't want to poison any of them. Anyone any ideas please?

Woodcock Cottage

Joined: 08 Apr 2005
Posts: 14
Location: West somerset

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 05 8:22 pm Post subject: Brambles
Hi there, I haven't tried this myself but I work for an organic herb company and when they started the herb field it was covered in brambles. They moved black plastic around the field year on year and smotehred the weeds- including brambles! So if you want an organic veg plot I'd suggest putting this year aside for 'smothering' and plant out next year.

Kirstie

Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 94
Location: Scotland

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 05 8:59 pm Post subject:
Thanks I will give that a try, am trying to plant some vegetables this year so I could do a patch with black plastic and perhaps rotovate the rest of the area and pull out the roots by hand, was trying to save myself some time with a quicker solution, but always better to be natural

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 05 9:12 pm Post subject:
If you've got goats I'd have thought they would keep the new shoots down and the brambles would die. When I cleared our back garden I dug or pulled out the bramble roots and that's stopped them regrowing. Of course you could let some grow and make bramble jam or wine.

Kirstie

Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 94
Location: Scotland

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 05 9:20 pm Post subject:

Thanks Treacodacty, unfortunately my goats seem to be quite choosy about what they eat (unusual I thought), and also because they have the freedom to roam then they don't spend a large amount of time in there. I am keeping some of the brambles on another plot for the bramble wine of course

but I do need to clear this, it is about 3/4 of an acre so means a lot of work, I guess I can start it a bit at a time but I am conscious I have a growth spurt of seedlings in the utility room that will shortly need to be planted

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 05 9:22 pm Post subject:
Mmm, I've not had that many to deal with. Perhaps a flame gun or strimmer several times may kill them, but best to see what others think. Good luck.

Maranne

Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 16
Location: Orkney Islands, Scotland

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 6:22 pm Post subject:

Hi Folks
This is my first post on this site so excuse me any Faux Pas.
As for clearing roots of brambles and other persistent weeds, there is nothing better for the job than pigs. If your fences are good and you are able to provide some rudimentary housing.
When we first moved to our place in Orkney we borrowed/rented some weaners from a local pig farmer to clear some derelict ground. The farmer also helped with the fencing and housing.
Sows are much better at digging than weaners and if you could find a couple of old girls between farrowing they should do the job.
It may be a bit late now to do the whole plot before planting time but the strategic use of an electric fence should clear a few strips for growing tatties etc.
Good luck
Martyn.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45432
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 6:23 pm Post subject:
No Faux Pas there, welcome on board How's the weather up there?

Kirstie

Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 94
Location: Scotland

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 8:14 pm Post subject:
Hi Martyn, Welcome on board certainly no faux pas, unfortunately I have all other livestock apart from pigs, although was thinking of getting some. I have started digging the roots out bit by bit, I think i will probably be finished around 2007 Also I don't know any local farmers with pigs, however I will ask around as there are other areas to be cleared. Thanks for the help

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 8:38 pm Post subject:
Hiya Martyn, am looking forward to some interesting posts from you!

ButteryHOLsomeness

Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 9:53 pm Post subject:

Maranne wrote:

Hi Folks
This is my first post on this site
Martyn.

hello martyn! wow, all the way up in orkney! how's the growing up there?

i've always wondered just how hard it is to grow items outdoors there. we lived on skye for 2.5 years and managed to grow some lovely tomatoes outside, well, until the wooley maggots (or sheep as they are commonly known) ate them all... i thought the leaves were poisonous... i didn't see so much as one with even a tummy ache (not that i'm bitter or anything

)

you're tip on pigs is excellent, i was going to post that myself, great minds think alike and all that

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