MANAGING BLACKBERRY: HERBICIDES

Herbicides At A Glance

Five considerations when selecting a herbicide:

1. Proximity of the application site to water.
2. Selectivity of herbicide.
   It is best practice in weed management to retain desirable species and maintain groundcover.
3. Cost of herbicide.
   Low-cost active ingredients will not always give the best long-term control. Application costs for retreatment need to be factored into the decision.
4. Level of control.
   Experience has shown that a mixture of triclopyr + picloram +/– aminopyralid will give the greatest long-term control.
5. Application costs.
   For large infestations the cost of retreatment is often underestimated.

Situations for specific herbicides
Metsulfuron-methyl: Recommended for initial treatment of large, dense infestations.

Glyphosate: Recommended for small infestations that are easy to check and retreat and areas where other herbicides cannot be used, such as in or near watercourses and in urban and peri-urban areas.

Triclopyr: Recommended for initial treatment of large infestations.

Picloram: Recommended where the use of pellet formulations is considered the most appropriate application technique.

Picloram + Triclopyr: Recommended for most infestations, both large and small, as it usually provides the highest levels of control.