Attack of the Killer Blackberry

If you live in the Northwest, you know about brambles...We have a love hate relationship with brambles...the fruits are so tasty, but they can be very invasive! I happen to love Blackberries but the shrub that you see pictured is not a welcome guest.

As you can see, it has taken over a portion of the hedge behind it...so removal will be particularly difficult. Sadly, it is also in other parts of the yard, including my grape vines and very dangerously near my raspberries.

Being relatively new to the Pacific Northwest, I am still discovering what the regional challenges are of gardening here. I did some research and I think the thug pictured above is the Himalayan Blackberry . (Audience: Collective Gasp) I know, isn't that scary?

Actually, it is very scary...have you ever seen The Blob? The Blob was originally released in 1958, but I liked the 1988 version better, mostly because the blob was this cool fuschia color. I mean, what's not to like about fuschia? But I digress...

Himalayan Blackberry is much like The Blob, in that it doesn't seem like it should be particularly scary...I mean, it's a Blackberry for Pete's sake. True, it is a slow mover, but once it gets established, it is almost impossible to eradicate. When in fruit, it has yummy, charming little blackberries. But beware, the thorns are vicious and likely to tear a hole in delicate flesh. And, it is everywhere, literally...just when you think you are safe...It pops up again.

In the 1958 version, The Blob was controlled by freezing (can't remember what happened in the 1988 version)...and that would probably be a good control for our hateful blackberry. I suspect that if Oregon had hard freezes, this thing would either be gone or be much more limited.

Although I am loathe to do it (mostly because of the pain), I must start cutting it back so it doesn't take over. If I don't, very likely it will consume my gardens, and eventually the whole yard! (Audience: Screams, Runs from Computer)

Comments

[Anonymous]

ja, you called critters hateful and now bluberiesare hateful.mn is listening.have you thought of wearing heavy leather gloves. we have a paracantha in our past talkabout thorns! as you recall it was to keep children out of the ft yard.thes berries a inocent the just want room to grow.leave a little for me, love mimi

[The Gardeness]

I've been waging war on blackberries behind our garage. They've called in reinforcements that are springing up in the front now. GRRRR!There's an award for you over at my blog www.gardeness.com

[Barbee']

Oh me, what a challenge. I think the things are still growing when we are in our beds asleep. Hang in there; we are rooting for you to win, not the brambles.

[Weed Whackin' Wenches]

OMG, don't EVEN get me started on blackberries. Evil incarnate! But it's a great opportunity to get to use your machete. --Curmudgeon

[Shelly]

I noticed a lovely new row of blackberries under the wire out to the well. The birdies sit on the wire after they eat the berries and then they pooh...ta daaaa...seeds and fertilizer all in one! Grrrr. Oh...and when it freezes really hard it doesn't hurt the berries a bit, trust me.

[Jean Ann]

Thanks for the support, people, Lord knows I need it...I found a new start in between the tiny of driveway concrete and garage wall. Good grief!

[farmingfriends]

Blackberries seem to get everywhere and their runners often trip me up as I stroll through my orchard on the way to let the poultry out in a morning, but hte fruit is delicious especially in an apple and blackberry crumble!Sara from farmingfriends