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Apr 25, 2015 12:05 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
We bought this house two years ago, and it came with thornless raspberries and blackberries in the veggie garden. I don't know what kind of plants they are, as in the name of the variety, but they are delicious! However, the raspberries are taking over, and I don't know what to do with them. I've never grown them before, and I need some advice on how to control them. I've converted the veggie garden into a daylily garden, and moved the veggies to a new area. I would eventually like to transplant the raspberries and blackberries to a new area, but I'm nowhere close to being ready for that. The problem I have now is that the raspberries are coming up all over the garden, and I can't seem to stop them. I decided early this year to cut them almost to the ground, along the area where they were originally planted, but that seems to have just put them into overdrive on spreading. The blackberries are much better at staying mostly put.

I'm getting desperate, and need some help! Is there a way to stop them from spreading everywhere? I've tried digging up the new plants, but they just seem to break off from the roots that must be a lot deeper down. I've read somewhere that cutting them off at the ground may help, but that hasn't worked as planned. It's going to be a raspberry jungle out there before too long!

Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated!
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Apr 25, 2015 5:41 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Cutting them off at ground level just doesn't work. I dig out any (dig deep and follow the root) that invade the flower garden from the raspberry strip. It's a big job when you first do it, then it's up to you to keep them in their own area. Blackberry branches bend and root where the tip touches ground. They were much harder to dig out for me but I did it. Keep at least 2' clear of raspberries (at the point where they want to enter your daylily garden) and they will still detect the nice, soft soil and the roots will run for it.

Someone suggested burying aluminum flashing (available at Home Depot) but the edges are sharp and I wasn't willing to risk my hands or fingers.
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Apr 25, 2015 6:45 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Thanks Arlene.

So how do you keep them in their own area? That is my problem right now! I was thinking of a barrier too, but that flashing worries me too much. I noticed that someone down the road had planted all of her raspberries in 5 gallon buckets last year, and buried the buckets in the ground. Sounds like a great idea for when I get around to moving these. I talked to her when she was just planting them, so she didn't know if it would work. Guess I need to check and see how it went, and if they escaped.

Now to figure out how to stop these beasts from taking over! I've dug deep, and haven't found any roots, but I know that they are down there somewhere.
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Apr 25, 2015 7:03 PM CST
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Depending on how much space you're willing to sacrifice until the move, allowing a mowing strip between them and the daylily bed may help...at least short-term. Just thinking out loud really, but mowing is the only way we can keep the wild ones under some sort of control in our back field.
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


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Apr 25, 2015 8:04 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Chelle is right - allow a mowing strip, or more if you can. Also, see if you can enlist the help of anyone (maybe for a few daylily divisions as payment) and try the bucket method for the raspberries or they'll haunt you forever.

When you dig the raspberries you will have to follow the root as it heads north, south, east or west, because it will simply resurface time and time again.

We have the raspberries on the outside of the fence but they still creep towards the inside. I just might try the bucket method myself! Thanks for the idea.

When we grew our vegetables in this garden the raspberries invaded (as you can see) from the left.
I cut them down so the deer fencing could be installed when I changed the garden to flowers.
Aluminum flashing. A roofer could work with it but the bucket idea is better.
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Apr 25, 2015 11:17 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
There is no grass in the daylily garden, so no mowing. Not worth even trying, as there really isn't enough room in there to begin with. I'm sure that this isn't the right time of year to be digging the bushes up, but I'm kind of at my wits end with dealing with them. And, I need the room for more daylilies! There is a good two feet between the bushes and the fence behind them, so maybe I'll see if I can get them moved into buckets at least for now, and then try to get all of the roots out. Funny how they never grow toward the fence. Glare

Arlene, there is no one around here to help, except my husband. We're the youngsters in our area, and we aren't all that young! I asked my DH if he would help me for a few fans, and he ran out of the room laughing. Rolling on the floor laughing

Here's a picture of the daylily garden last year, so you know what I'm talking about. The raspberries are on the right, and the blackberries are next to them, but they aren't in the picture.

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Apr 26, 2015 6:50 AM CST
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Oh my, those are really close to the daylilies. That's a tough removal job any way you look at it. If it were me doing the job, I'd have to relocate those daylilies first. In order to get out all the runners and roots, I'd have that entire area piled with dirt.
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


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Apr 26, 2015 6:55 AM CST
Name: Karen
Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Garden Art Region: Minnesota Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
Natalie, the background scenery in that picture is awesome. I would just pull up a chair, eat berries and enjoy the view!!! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!
Happiness is doing for those who cannot do for themselves.
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Apr 26, 2015 8:17 AM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
It really is a beauty spot and the scenery in the background is gorgeous, as Karen said.

Natalie - It's a choice you have to make. The raspberries will continue to expand. There is NO doubt about it.

We've all had problems where we don't want to spend the time and energy on some project because there's another project we really want to do. If you lost the day in the garden due to rain, you wouldn't be outside. So the only choice I see is pretend it's raining and dig out the raspberries and pot them up.

Chelle said it's a tough problem and it is. Get the shovel, pile up the raspberries and search for more runners while you dig because they will show up regardless of how much you don't want them to expand.

You know we're all wishing you the best luck.
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Apr 26, 2015 9:18 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Thanks everyone! The view is awesome! I love the privacy I've got here! But, that isn't even the best view I've got, so I really love it here.

As I mentioned, that picture is from June of last year, and I've cut the raspberries way back. I have zero experience with raspberries, so I didn't know what to do with them. I didn't prune them like they should have been the year before, or last year for that matter. No need to remove the daylilies at this point, and I wouldn't do it anyway. It took me ages to get that area weeded and ready for the plants after we moved in, so they are staying. The entire garden isn't covered with raspberries coming up. Just close to the main plants, but they are spreading. Plus, I have nowhere to move the daylilies to, in order to keep them safe from the deer.

My other reason for wanting to get the raspberries removed is because there was a rattlesnake hiding in them last year. That freaked me out! I really don't want to move the bushes right now, but it sounds like the best thing to do, since you all have my convinced that this is just going to get worse! It's probably easier right now, since the roots haven't gone everywhere.

Thanks for all the help!
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Apr 26, 2015 9:24 AM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
"...but they are spreading" is the problem. I don't see any solution except for digging them out and potting them up. Here the deer do not eat them: I hope they won't eat yours either.
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Apr 26, 2015 9:39 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Arlene, they eat them here. None of the neighbors have been able to keep the plants growing if they aren't fenced in. I'll put them in buckets and move them the two feet back to the edge of the fence, until I can get an area ready for them. We're over-run with deer here, so things have to be fenced in.
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Apr 26, 2015 10:29 AM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Same here with fencing. It's a royal pain and doesn't exactly convey the message of an English Cottage Garden!!!
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Apr 26, 2015 11:04 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
I've learned to live with the fences, because without them, there would be no flowers. The only safe place here, when we bought it, was the veggie garden. While I insist on having fresh veggies in the summer, I wasn't about to lose the daylilies that I moved with me, so they had to go in the veggie garden. We've since fenced off a larger area for veggies and other flowers, but I still haven't removed all the lawn in that area. I'm working on it, but it all takes time. We're also working on a very large expansion of the garden area, but haven't made a lot of progress on that, either, since we've had almost 12 inches of rain this year. It's impossible to get the tractor in there with all the mud! I need to learn patience. Its never been one of my strong points. Big Grin

I just started digging out the raspberry roots. Blinking Blinking Blinking Those things are huge! Like small tree branches! Wasn't expecting that! But, it should make them easier to follow. Just need to figure out which direction they are headed. Seems to be every direction right now. Glare I'm almost considering using a tough brush killer on them, even though I HATE using any kind of chemicals. We had to use some on the wild blackberries along one side of the property last year, because they were starting to take over. Huge areas of land here are totally covered in them, and we didn't want that to happen to us. So, it was chemical warfare, and it worked. I hope it doesn't come to that for the raspberries, but I'll do it if needed. This isn't an area that will ever have food planted in it again, so that makes the decision easier. In the meantime, I can hopefully get these bushes dug up and replanted into buckets. I just hope that the buckets will give the roots enough room.
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Apr 26, 2015 1:15 PM CST
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
As you say, they're hard to kill. I'd bet that you could get by with healing them in in an out of the way corner of your property someplace during the interim. Maybe just drape a piece of fencing over the above-ground parts for deer protection while they're there.
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


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Apr 26, 2015 2:24 PM CST
Name: Karen
Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Garden Art Region: Minnesota Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
If I saw one snake of any kind or shape, it would be the last raspberry that ever passed my lips anyway, so they could grow wherever they wanted Sad Sad Sad Sad
Happiness is doing for those who cannot do for themselves.
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Apr 26, 2015 6:11 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Karen, I'm doing my best to fence out the snakes. I don't mind the non-poisonous snakes at all. I had a 3 foot long gopher snake in my daylily garden all year last year. I named him Bob. He just kind of hung out, and never fussed at me, so he was welcome to stay. The rattlesnakes are not welcome. Two of our dogs got bit last year, and it was horrifying. We get snake vaccines for them, so they did fine, but it was on a Sunday night, and the ER vet in the city is an hour away. Got there really fast that night! I was just lucky that I didn't get bit also, because it was a huge snake, and it didn't rattle when I went to pick the raspberries. Found out that they were attracted to the bunnies that got into the garden, so I've fenced them out too. I'm quite positive that a snake will get snagged up in the fence if it tries to get in. I was a nervous wreck over it last year, and I don't want to be nervous in my own garden! So, that was the main reason that I insist on the raspberries being moved, and right in line behind that is because they are going to take over the daylilies.
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Apr 26, 2015 6:12 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Natalie - I agree: no fencing = no flowers. Tonight I draped a piece of the large type deer mesh over an area just because there are lilies and phlox and they don't even look interesting when the deer attack them. I'd go with Ortho's Poison Ivy and Tough Brush Killer, which works so fast. It's almost instant gratification (but only as a last resort).

Good idea, Chelle. A few pieces of rebar can lift the deer mesh high enough to allow Natalie access but keep the deer out. There are cables of various lengths to secure the netting to the rebar. Here they're sold in the electrical department of Home Depot.

I have sufficient nightmares, complete with blood curdling screams, and can't imagine what they'd be like if I encountered a snake while gardening, Karen!
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Apr 26, 2015 6:14 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Good name for the snake. My ex was a Bob!
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Apr 26, 2015 6:14 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing

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