Briar removal

MossRoad · Mar 19, 2005

Sounds like a great machine. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Here's a link to the factory website with pictures and specs for anyone else that is interested.

Phred · Apr 5, 2005

Guys,

I hate to break it to you, but if you cut some types of brush it will just come back stronger.
I have quite a stand of black berries and thisltes to prove it.

I have had at this stuff with a dozer and a 70hp tractor and heavy duty cutter. Looks good till it comes back even bigger.

I am looking at spraying it, but 2-4-D will not cut it. A tank mix of Grazon PD and Remedy is the prefered method around here.

Fred

Highbeam · Apr 6, 2005

Sure it will come back if you let it. Why not stay on top of it by brushhogging at regular intervals?

Phred · Apr 6, 2005

Sure if you want to cut it every couple of months that is an option. I guess if it is a small area then you would eventually kill it off maybe.

If you have a big area then cutting it often is not a good plan. Also you can use cows, but they will avoid the briars. So what you end up with is a thicket of briars that comes back.

I think a better option is to spray it and kill it and then overseed with grass. Sure you may need to spray once a year to take care of the survivors. But after a year or two it should be gone.

Fred

hudr · Apr 7, 2005

I have found that Spike will kill it and keep it gone. However, DO NOT get Spike any where near any trees you want to keep. It will kill them graveyard dead. Spike is designed to kill trees but works well on any 'woody stemmed' flora. It has kept blackberry brambles off of my cross fences for 5 years now even though they grow back right up against the treated area.

Dachshund · Apr 7, 2005

I hate you, hate you, hate you! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Looks like soooo much fun! Almost make me wish I had some brush like that to get rid of! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Soundguy · Apr 7, 2005

( Sure if you want to cut it every couple of months that is an option. I guess if it is a small area then you would eventually kill it off maybe )

An agressive cutting schedule.. timed correctly, is a good way to reduce/controll briars. When i got my pasture.. nearly 8 ac of it was briar. Not it is more like .25 ac of it is briar. While the neighbors pasture is still 9ac of briar.

I mow once a month.. or 6weeks, depending on rain and growth. Hitting the briars at the right time really kicks them back.

I tried discing and spraying the first year.. didn't work out at all, mowing them regularly seems to work best.

( If you have a big area then cutting it often is not a good plan )

Um.. why??? I mow my 10 often.. takes about 3 hrs a pop.. that's way easy and cheaper compaired to other options...

Soundguy

viking65 · Apr 8, 2005

After 3 weeks of on and off again briar removal I have rid my property of a huge amount of briar bushes (multifora rose) and saplings of various varieties. The Simplicity brush mower has exceeded my expectations cutting briars and saplings close to 3". When I can't get close enough to cut the briars with the brush mower I use a Stihl brush cutter with a pole pruner (mini chain saw on a stick) attachment and slash my way to the center of the briar and then cut it off at the base. Then I run over it with the Simplicity and chop it all up. I am starting to enjoy this project now that I am winning the war on briars and seeing some good results. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

fireshawn · Apr 9, 2005

GOATS!!!! No they won't eat a tree, but if you overstock them they will eat the bark, they live for briars and they will essentially clean out the little stuff so you can get to the chainsaw work. If you already have it mowed down, they do wonders on keeping it at bay. Just a thought.

Phred · Apr 15, 2005

Yes if you have ten acers total I can see cutting it will work.
But what I was trying to say is that if you have a medium or big farm its probably better to spray. You will burn a lot of diesel fuel trying to cut back the briars that pop up on a 100 acre plus ranch or farm.

The problem with goats in some places is that they may tend to get eaten or run away. So then you need lots of good fencing and protection.

Ill spray instead.

Fred