davidinspain

Any pointers towards a confirmed killer of rope thick brambles?

Sherlock Holmes

A flame thrower.

Retired in Euskadi

Glyphosate, which Monsanto first developed years ago, but have no longer the exclusive patent rights, has been used by farmers over many years as a systemic weed killer. It penetrates to the roots.
Gardeners may know it as "Tumbleweed" or "Weedall", but the domestic version would probably be too weak.

Whether it'll do what you want though, am not 100% sure. You could try looking at the "UK pesticide guide" under www.bcpc.org or pesticides.org.

discoman

Glyphosate/Roundup will kill the brambles - I've tried it - but it won't make the dead stuff disappear! You'll have to hack it down and burn/dispose of it.

guesswork

An agricultural variety of glyphosate is called Clinic. If you can get it will be a lot cheaper than the brands bought from B+Q. A friend got me some from a Farm supplier.

Pocaloca

Roundup (glifosato) is sold in Spain and will do the job. They sell it in garden centres and hardware stores. Spray before you hack, because it is absorbed through the leaves. Leave it a couple of days to get into the roots then you can hack down the brambles and they shouldn't grow back.

rugbymatt

Glyphosate will only work long term if the plant is in full growth. Its systemic which means the plant has to be in growth for it to be effective to the end. It will kill or brown the leaves off but the plant will simply grow back. The one thing you have going is that if they are brambles glyphosate is its worst enemy, all Rosoideae are, thats why you should never risk spraying it near roses.

davidinspain

I want to be selective as they are growing between olive and orange trees.I've read it's best to paint it onto the "leaves"

rugbymatt

Paint the leaves or put a coke bottle over whatever spray you have. If you are painting then use a small brush and paint it neat. If you are spraying it then add a few drops of washing up liquid into the mixture. I would not spray until you start to see some growth though.

bigglesworth

My neighbour here in France gave me an (old) bottle of Garlon - no longer available, which he used asa gardener at the local chateau. He believes it the best for brambles.
Any views welcome please. I am a bit worried as we have four dogs (and a cat but she does not set foot outside after October), but can section the areas off.

rugbymatt

Never heard of it but a quick search and it contains Tricolpyr, which isn't a bad herbicide. Its got quite a long half life compared to glypho but if you can fence the area off and you have some then use it. Just remember, these things also have a shelf life, they might not be as effective.

bigglesworth

Thanks RugbyMatt

tommy.irene

Was there one called Remuda..it killed everything even grass it was banned in the UK.. dont know about Spain..

Retired in Euskadi

It's a non selective, systemic herbicide produced in the US. In other words kills whatever it comes into contact with by entering a plant's system & killing it from the inside. Contains 41% glyphosate, as does Roundup etc.
Don't know if it's available in Spain. So no different from those above.

Bri and Katee

Roundup full strength (agricultural not domestic) can be had in 1 litre bottles for around 12€ from the garden centres. You dilute it to a strength according to the guide on the bottle, I have 4 bottles of the stuff ready to go on the garden (2 acre weed plot ) come February.

Roundup is systemic and will kill your garden plants if it comes into contact. The nice thing about it is, it becomes neutralised on contact with the soil, so will not be taken up if washed into the roots of your plants.