No I don't think chicken manure will kill blackberries (not the introduced
species in the pnw, anyhowse.)
We moved into a house which had been cleared of most of the blackberries
but not all. The last hold out is along a fence and beneath lilacs. We
keep trying to get the blackberries out without killing the lilacs which
is quite challenging. WE've slowed them down a lot by piling wood chips
and compost on top of them but we never get the whole area covered so they
creep in from elsewhere and, too, I get side tracked my flower garden (a
garden at a friend's place where I grow flowers to sell...) and when I
wake up three months later they're back in full force. In fact this year
the morning glories and the docks are doing well too. Guess I been busy.
Sigh. I think, however, if my attention wasn't so scattered and I wasn't
trying to save the lilacs I could conquer them simply by cutting them down
and doing wood chip and compost piles. In fact, I did smother this way in
an area where there was nothing I was trying to save and now have three
apples and find that every several months I have one or two spindly
blackberries to cut down (or pull).
Well, those lilacs are old and haven't responded that well to our
rejuvenation attempts. Not surprising since they've been neglected
for years and get smothered, despite ours (and previous owners?)
attempts to keep them free from twining, limb breaking
blackberries, nightshade and morning glories. Maybe then I should
say they're doing well, all things considered? One is in fact,
doing quite well and it is the one least
emeshed with those thorny devils so we're thinking save that one and not
the rest and use the wood chip and compost method and in a year or so
we'll be able to plant an oak or a ponderosa (I love those two trees so
much...) That's the thing, it took about a year and half before I felt
confident to plant the apples and where I planted grapes in a rush I ended
up having to move them anyhowse because I really hadn't done away with the
blackberries. So, I think the method we use works if you're patient
enough. But it does mean nothing but piles of "crap" (useful crap :-) for
some time.
Now, I'm remembering this one bed in which several times a year one
blackberry appears, same spot every time. I just break it off since I
really don't want to disturb the bed in order to get *only* part of it.
Heck, how long a root that thing must have? Right now I am sure it is
growing away beneath a protective (hiding from me :-) canopy of tomatoes.
I'd be curious to hear what other folks in blackberry heaven have found to
work as well.
:-)
eliza
who is supposed to be doing some computer work but is instead goofing off.
Maybe I should get out there and hack at a few blackberries...they are
beginning to obscure our spigot in the back :-)
