Whether you keep a garden or not, almost everyone must have seen and touched pricker bushes.
A lot of times, our first contact with a pricker bush, is when they hurt us, apart from the hurt, a lot of people come up with various reactions as a result of a touch from a pricker bush.
Pricker bushes are almost everyone and while some people are aware of what are, some are unaware and do not know what to do with them. This article contains most of the questions you have about the pricker bush, and especially, how to get rid of it.
What Are Pricker Bushes Called?
Pricker bushes are trees that have sharply pointed parts of a plant. These sharp, pointed parts are usually produced by the plant’s epidermis or cortex.
Plants have ways of protecting themselves from harm, let’s call it their defense mechanism. Pricker on a plant is one of the many ways nature has provided for plants to defend themselves. Pricker bushes sometimes come with fruits or beautiful flowers.
Although these do not sound like what we will love to have around, it is interesting to know that some of the plants and trees in homes and gardens are pricker bushes.
What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Pricker Bushes?
Pricker bushes are sometimes getting in our way, causing more harm than good. We thought to provide you with the best way to get rid of your pricker bush. The first thing you need to know is the things you will need to get rid of your pricker bushes.
- A work overall cloth
- Sturdy boots
- Work gloves
- Hat
- Safety goggles
- Shovel
- Heavy twine
- Spade.
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How to Get Rid Of Pricker Bushes (Follow These Steps)
- Before you move any close to your plant, ensure you are properly covered in a thick, work overall cloth. Put on your work boots and gloves. Make sure your face is protected i.e., with a hat and goggles.
- Cut off the branches of the bush, and pack them together; you can ensure they are packed together by using wrapping a strong rope and binding them from top to bottom.
- After this is done, dig the soil around the bush, with a shovel then remove the top layer of dirt until the root system can be seen. This will give the entirety of your digging direction.
- Dig a deep hole of about 9 to 14 inches deep; this should be done around the circumference of the bush. To ensure the removal of the root system, dig the pit about 12 to 18 inches away from the shrub. With a sharp spade, cut through the uncovered roots.
- Start digging up the shrub with your shovel, shoved beneath the root system. you will be required to use a spade to cut through some tough roots. Keep digging and cutting until you can pull the whole bush off the ground. After this is done, replace the soil from the hole with fresh new soil. There, no more pricker bushes.
Are Pricker Bushes Poisonous?
Yes! Although it is rare to find a pricker bush to be poisonous, however, some are poisonous. They could inject a toxin that is strong enough to immobilize your muscles or cause serious damage to the brain tissue.
We recommend that you treat your wounds from pricker bushes immediately and pay attention to the signs that come from them. i.e., pain or redness of the point, swelling of the finger or part of the body that got pricked too much bleeding, fever, weakness, or nausea after being pricked, yellow discharge from the site.
We also recommend that before moving close to a pricker bush; ensure to properly cover your body, feet, face, and head.
How Do You Stop Pricker Bushes From Growing?
If the pricker bushes are small, the best way to stop them from growing again is to uproot the bush from the root. You can do this with the use of a spade and by digging around the base of the shrub. Once they are properly removed, pack them all together and burn them.
However, if they are overgrown, cut down the branches, and make use of hand tools like long handles branch cutters to get the branches off. do not make use of power tools like hedge trimmers, chainsaws, etc.
As this can be dangerous, cut it all down and use a spade to dig out its root then dispose of it in a dump.
Why Do People Plant Pricker Bushes?
Most pricker bushes are attached to colorful plants and fruity trees. Many people grow them for aesthetics, medicinal purposes, and the fruits on them.
Remember that thorns and prickers are nature’s way of protecting these plants from predators. Hence the plants and trees have other benefits for which they can be grown around. Pricker bushes can also be used for security reasons.
The bushes can be woven or placed around the home or around the garden to prevent predators.
FAQs on Removing Pricker Bushes
Can You Burn Pricker Bushes?
Yes, you can! The best way to get rid of pricker bushes is to burn them. However, this can only be done when they are small. Pricker bushes will take a longer time to burn, including the smaller bushes, however, over time, the small bushes will burn to ashes.
Will Vinegar Kill Pricker Bushes?
Yes! Vinegar is known to be an excellent weed killer. You only need about 5% home white vinegar; you’ll not need to make use of anyone with a higher concentration. In about two to three days, the pricker bushes will be dead. We cannot however guarantee that the vinegar will get rid of pricker bushes around you.
Will Roundup Kill Pricker Bushes?
Roundup is the brand name of a broad-spectrum glyphosate-based herbicide, it is known as the most widely used herbicide in the United States. Glyphosate will damage and kill any tree, shrub, grass, or anything that it is applied on.
Will bleach kill pricker bushes?
Yes! However, there is a process to it. The first thing you need to do to make use of bleach is to trim or cut down the branches of your pricker bush. Ensure you trim them to be as short as possible, then pour concentrated bleach around the roots for several days. This will kill the plant and prevent it from growing again.
Final Thoughts
In many cases, pricker bushes are usually unwanted, however, some of our loved plants and fruits come with these pickers on their stem. Common household items are effective at controlling pricker bushes, thorns, and weeds, using them will reduce the usage of chemicals for the land.
It is not uncommon to find that in the process of touching or digging out your pricker bush, you get hurt. Ensure to disinfect the wound and cover it up to prevent the attraction of further infection. You can also visit the hospital for more treatments.