[mushroom]

Hi,

I have brambles at the southern border of my plot. They have encroached about 10 feet (north) into my plot. Now, this is a significant inroad into my limited real estate (about 80ft x20 ft) and this winter, I'd like to shift most of it. I don't want to kill all of it, because it provides cover against prying eyes and makes climbing over the fence a very uncomfortable experience. But I'd like most of my real estate back.

Now, the bit that I want to remove is established. I mean, established for years. Cutting the brambles down I can handle. Where I foresee difficulty is dealing with the roots. Is there a "proper way" of doing this, or shall I carry on with my usual method of brute force and ignorance?

How deep do bramble roots go, usually? I have a mattock to deal with roots - is this sufficient, or should I hire some tool from somewhere?

Brambles and nettles. This is more difficult than the buried glass in the front part. The brambles are over a couple of inches thick in places near the ground.

 :shock:  

[muntjac]

hack it right back to the roots on all fronts ,burn the rubbish .now chop up the roots until your back to the edge of your " estate"  and then put up wires n posts n when the roots spring forth new branches tie these into the wires ,dig up all roots not within this  training line   .feed in spring with some nice manure n they will come back ,under control and tamed  

[mushroom]

cheers Munty, I was hoping you'd reply.

Looks like I've got me work cut out for me then, next weekend!  

Sadly, we're not allowed to burn garden waste until next bonfire night. What I've been doing is lopping off what I can, putting that into a pile, then cutting the brambles into smaller bits with the secateurs, then putting the bits into an  old oil drum. I was wondering, if I hired a shredder, would the resulting bits be usable on the soil or in a composter?

Brambles seem quite indestructible, unless burned. I wanted to avoid taking em to the tip unless there was no other choice  

Secondly, can secateurs be sharpened???

[muntjac]

cheers Munty, I was hoping you'd reply.

Looks like I've got me work cut out for me then, next weekend!  

Sadly, we're not allowed to burn garden waste until next bonfire night. What I've been doing is lopping off what I can, putting that into a pile, then cutting the brambles into smaller bits with the secateurs, then putting the bits into an  old oil drum. I was wondering, if I hired a shredder, would the resulting bits be usable on the soil or in a composter?

Brambles seem quite indestructible, unless burned. I wanted to avoid taking em to the tip unless there was no other choice  

Secondly, can secateurs be sharpened???

 yes they will compost ,soak em in water for a few weeks n then tip it on the compost pile water n all ,,,,,, yes secateurs can be sharpened .well one edge only .the sharp edge  :roll:   can be filed to retain the angle of cut alreadty there ,and then oil and tighten them up a little till the spring throws the the blade  back unde pressure  

[mushroom]

cool, cheers for the tip. I was unaware of the soaking in water bit.

[muntjac]

cool, cheers for the tip. I was unaware of the soaking in water bit.

 makes em go all funny n they fall to bits  :roll:

[splodger]

Secondly, can secateurs be sharpened???

i just clean and sharpen my secs with sandpaper - quick - easy and very effective - and i keep them  oiled too

[mushroom]

What grade of sandpaper? Is it wet and dry stuff?

[splodger]

i used to - (well still do ish) restore furniture - so i just use whats lying around - normally quite fine but not wet n dry  

i use sandpaper to keep most things sharp - sometimes use a stone first and paper to smooth it down - helps to remove rust on your tools too - just remember to oil 2

[londongardener]

 yes they will compost ,soak em in water for a few weeks n then tip it on the compost pile water n al

Could I also compost contaminated (with stick insect waste) newspapers like this by soaking them for a few weeks ?

[muntjac]

yups