Ideas for weed control

[cjhomebird]

Has anyone got any suggestions as to how we can get rid of and control the overgrown bank. We need to get rid of weeds and brambles but dont want to put any weed killer down as there are some wild flowers and shrubs amongst all the mess. It is far worse than this now as this picture was taken last June.
Its the area behind tha naked conifers!! There are wild primroses, bluebells and foxgloves on this bank so need to protect them. The neighbours do not do anything with their side so we are up against it really. One of the baddies is a thorny bramble type plant that has red berries on, not sure what it is.


CJ

[Rosefriend]

That is certainly a job and a half CJ - don't envy you at all.

I would still put my money on weedkiller, by waiting until things that you can recognise are through in the Spring and then carefully spray the other stuff. I did an area like that a few years ago for someone and it worked fairly well - long job though.

Anything massive, hack back and if it is impossible to get rid of it by digging it out, just keep it cut back.

I hope others have some better ideas.

RF

[Amo]

I've been hitting the brambles and nettles here over the past couuple of years with selective digging out where possible and weedkiller too. The type you can carefully direct. I cut them down and waited for the new, vigorous growth for the best effect. It's a repetative and careful job but this year I've certaily noticed a huge reduction in the bad guys and the good guys are still coming through.

The only suggestions I have is a lot of hard graft and then patience! Good Luck.

PS are you doing a Dutchy with your nuddy conifers??

[Weeterrier]

I'd tend to cover the things you want, and then Glyphosate the rest. Remember, it de-activates on contact with the soil, so as long as you don't actually spray the wild flowers, they will be fine.
Other than that, it's a matter of digging out. Always much more tiring on a slope.

[cjhomebird]

The slope wears me out just looking at it. I have only been to the top of the garden twice in 12years, my OH has cut some steps into the bank but it is so steep and unfortunately I hate heights. This is one of the things on my TO DO BEFORE I DIE list. The view from the top is lovely and I would love to have a viewing platform built, one similar to the one at Honeybrook Cottage. We visited this last year for the open gardens.its beautiful, and Geralds views are mor spectacular than mine.

[Auricula]

Covering what you want to keep and blitzing the rest with glysophate is the only answer I fear

[cjhomebird]

I might just kill next doors mess. They are never going to go up the bank and there side is where most of the brambles come from. They have said we can do wht we like, so perhaps a good weed kill on their side will help.

CJ