Wild roses are strong, hardy plants that are sometimes called prairie roses or Scottish or dog roses. There are many varieties of wild rose, but true wild roses have five petals on their flowers, which tend to be white or pink. These plants tend to spread through their roots and runners, making them difficult to completely eradicate from a garden. However, the two methods you can use include the use of chemical herbicides or the elimination of the bush by digging the entire root ball.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use a herbicide
Step 1. Choose an appropriate herbicide
Chemical herbicides containing glyphosate are an easy way to get rid of unwanted wild roses, but you'll need to be very careful not to treat the plants you want to get rid of as well.
- Some chemical herbicides tend to linger in the soil, so choose your herbicide carefully if you intend to replant in the area soon after.
- Also make sure you choose an effective herbicide for woody plants.
Step 2. Get rid of the wild rose bushes in late summer if possible
Late summer is the best time to apply herbicide to wild rose bushes. It is always best to remove the bushes before the false fruits of the wild rose (rose hips) form, and this happens in late summer or autumn.
- Choose a calm windy day to avoid spreading the chemicals. Also, choose a dry day with no rain forecast to prevent the weed killer from being washed off.
- It is advisable to avoid digging the plants in the winter, as the earth can be more difficult to work.
Step 3. Follow the specific instructions provided with your chosen herbicide
Read the instructions for any brand of herbicide you have purchased, to find out the recommended method of use. However, in most cases the following criteria are suggested when using a herbicide:
- Protect other plants and soil as required, including by using plastic sheeting. Wear protective clothing and gloves, and consider wearing goggles. Exclude children and pets from the area.
- Spray the bush with chemicals, making sure to saturate the bush base and stems. Wait a couple of weeks for the treatment to take effect. Reapply as needed.
Step 4. Use a stump-specific herbicide if you need to remove the wild rose in the winter
Some chemical herbicides are marketed as stump killers. These give the best results in the colder months when the sap is not rising (usually November - March).
- To use a stump killer, prune the branches and then saw off the main stem of the bush down to a few inches above the ground. Apply stump killer to freshly cut wood.
- This only works on live wood, so if the bush is already dead or the stem is brown and dry, the treatment will not have the effect of killing the rest of the bush.
- It may be necessary to drill holes in the stem to help chemicals penetrate if the treatment was not effective the first time.
Step 5. Wait several weeks before digging up the now dead rose bush
Chemical herbicides are supposed to kill a plant down to the roots, so the plant should not grow back even when the roots are left in the ground. However, you should avoid removing the bush for several weeks for the chemicals to spread into the plant's root structure.
- You will likely want to remove the dead plant after the herbicide has done its job. This is to prevent the dead stump from becoming unsightly or posing a danger.
- Since the dead stump will not clear away very quickly in the soil, it is advisable to remove most of it before replanting in the area. A pickaxe will help you remove the root crown and stump from the ground a couple of weeks after the herbicide treatment.
Step 6. Avoid using household chemicals to kill the rosebush
Some might recommend using household chemicals like salt, vinegar, or bleach to kill wild roses. However, this is not recommended as these chemicals can contaminate the soil, making it difficult to cultivate the area later. Instead, brand name chemicals intended specifically for gardens such as Roundup should be used.
Method 2 of 2: Dig the Wild Rose Bush
Step 1. Start by watering the plant well the day before
This should help the root mass remain fairly intact when you pull it out. If some parts of the root are left in the ground they can revive and generate a new plant, which of course you want to avoid!
Step 2. Prune your wild roses to a few inches above the ground
It's best to protect your arms when doing this - use heavy gardening gloves and thick sleeves.
Step 3. Carefully remove the entire root ball from the soil
When you decide to dig, expect the root ball in most cases to extend about six inches from the main stem of the rose. Direct the excavation in this area using a spade.
Make every effort to avoid leaving root pieces in the soil as these can sprout again. It might make sense to dig some of the surrounding soil just to be safe
Step 4. Burn or dispose of the rose bush, avoiding composting
It is best to burn the rosebush once it is pulled out, or dispose of it with household waste. Avoid using it for compost.
- Soil should also be cleared to prevent it from contaminating a new area with sprouting rose roots.
- If you leave the bush on a pile intended for disposal or fire, make sure it is not in contact with the soil, as it could reform roots if left there long enough.
Step 5. Look around for any regrowth
After completing the extraction of the rose bushes, keep an eye on the area for a few months just to check that nothing comes up in the area. This could indicate that you have left roots in the earth that need to be removed.
Step 6. Consider more radical removal methods if the rosebush keeps reappearing
If you have a serious problem with new wild roses sprouting from root runners and root sections left in the ground, it is advisable to use a chemical herbicide.
- If you'd rather avoid chemical herbicides, you may want to try excluding light from the area. You could therefore purchase a weed control fabric that allows water to penetrate but not light.
- Cover the area with fabric and weight it down with large stones. You will have to leave it there for several months before the rose bushes die.
