How to Get Rid of Catbriar
- 1). Put on sturdy gloves to protect your hands from the catbriar's sharp thorns. Locate the base of a catbriar vine and use gardening shears to cut it low to the ground, leaving behind a small stem about three to six inches long.
- 2). Use the shears to separate the bulk of the plant from any vines that are tangled with other plants or objects. Dispose of the bulk of the plant in a plastic trash bag. Carefully remove the lingering vines -- don't simply pull them, as this will damage beneficial plants -- and dispose of them as well. Pick up any fallen leaves or berries and throw them away.
- 3). Apply glyphosate-based herbicide to the cut stem of the plant. Monitor the plant for a week afterward; if the stem continues to grow, trim it back down to a length of about three inches and reapply the herbicide. Dig up and dispose of the plant, and as much of the root system as you can without damaging surrounding plants, when it begins to yellow and die.
- 4). Repeat the process for any additional growth and any new growth. Wait until new sprouts are about six inches tall before applying herbicide for maximum effectiveness.