Smilax – Organic Control

Q: We have a wooded area just beyond our backyard. We would like to be able to use this area, but there is a thicket of green briar as an undergrowth throughout the woods.

A: Theresa Schrum replies:

“You have just had an encounter with one of our native species of smilax.

“Even though I am a native plant enthusiast, this is one mean and nasty plant. As you have discovered, it is also very difficult to eliminate. I recently cleared a quarter acre of the plant. Let me tell you how I did it.

“I first cut the briars at ground level and removed the vines. They don’t compost well and will completely bind up any shredder/chipper. I cut mine into small pieces and threw them away. They have a very deep and expansive root system so forget about digging them out. They are also extremely resistant to herbicides. I even tried Roundup mixed with Brush-B-Gone, etc.

“Instead, after removal, I simply walked into the woods once a week and cut any that tried to re-sprout. This eventually starved out the roots and they did not come back. It took one growing season to accomplish this.

“I still occasionally get a new one from seed dropped by a bird, but it’s easy to eliminate. I have used the same technique to eliminate blackberry and poison ivy.”