Arching stems filled with thorns create briar a nuisance when it’s in your lawn. Sweet briar (Rosa rubiginosa) is a invasive wild rose which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, along with other briars include dewberry (Rubus flagellaris), that rises in USDA zones 3b via 8a and blackberry (Rubus spp.) , which rises USDA zones 6 through 8. Briar is challenging to remove since the plants resprout from their roots, but thorough digging and powerful herbicides finally kill it.

Small Patches of Briar

Digging the plants up and laying landscape material controls small briar patches. You can control a couple of small briar plants by eliminating all of the plants’ roots and covering up the dirt to prevent stray roots regrowing. Put on a long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, safety goggles and leather gloves, and cut the stems about 2 inches above the dirt with pruning shears. Dig up the plants with a garden fork, taking care to remove all of the roots. Put landscape fabric over the region and spread a 2-inch layer of mulch, such as wood chips, over the fabric. Put briar roots and stems in the trash and sterilize the pruning shears by wiping the blades with rubbing alcohol before you use them on plants.

Spring Removal

Late spring to early summer is the best times to control briar. The plants absorb the herbicide when they are actively growing and their leaves are fully open. Put on protective clothing, and dilute a 8 percent triclopyr product at a speed of 4 fluid oz for every 1 gallon of water. Mix the solution in a garden sprayer, then spray all of the briar leaves and stems to a dry, still day. Triclopyr will kill desirable plants, so take care not to spray plants you would like to maintain or cover them with a tarp or empty boxes when spraying. Check the patch frequently, and in the event the briar regrows, spray the plants when their leaves are fully open. Manufacturers’ instructions vary among manufacturers, so follow the instructions on the label.

Fall Control

When commanding briar in fall, cut back the stems to encourage the plants to absorb the herbicide. Briar stops growing in early fall, and stores energy in its own origins, ready to sprout the following spring. Wearing protective clothing, cut briar stems 4 or 5 inches above the ground on a dry, still day. Paint the receptive surfaces with an undiluted triclopyr product, or treat the stems in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. Use a paintbrush kept only for this use. Check the area for regrowth frequently in spring, and spray on any briar sprouts when their leaves are fully accessible.

Winter Spraying

A basal bark herbicide treatment controls briar in winter. Briar loses its leaves in late fall, but it might absorb herbicide via its bark. Put on protective clothing, and on a dry nevertheless day when the plants have lost their leaves, then spray on a diluted triclopyr product over the lowest 12 to 18 inches of briar stems. Dilute at precisely the same speed of 4 fluid oz for each 1 gallon of water or according to the label’s instructions. Wet the entire stem down the dirt surface, and any exposed roots. Triclopyr binds to the soil and breaks down in sunlight and through the activities of soil microorganisms as time passes. Apart from plants’ roots don’t absorb the substance. Eliminate dead briar stems from spring, and inspect the region frequently for regrowth.

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