Cutting brambles down only stops them for a while, because they grow back from the roots. To get rid of them for good, the RHS says cut the stems down, dig out the stump and roots, then dig out any regrowth. We cut to ground level and don't dig out roots, so follow up cuts or treatment are needed.
The three ways to deal with brambles
| Method | What it does | The honest catch |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting down | Clears the garden straight away so you can use it again | The roots are still there, so it will grow back unless it's kept cut |
| Digging out the roots | The RHS's way to get rid of them: cut the stems down, then dig out the stump and as many roots as possible | Hard, slow work, and you still need to dig out new stems that appear |
| Weedkiller | Legal regulated weedkillers for home gardeners are available | The RHS doesn't support using them, and you must follow the label |
What the RHS says to do
The RHS advice for established brambles is to cut all the stems down to about 30cm from the ground with loppers, a hedge trimmer or a brush cutter, clear them away, then use a sharp spade and fork to dig out the main stump and as many roots as you can. After that, keep an eye on the area through the growing season and dig out any new stems that come up.
They also point out that bramble stems root where they touch the ground, so regularly shortening the long ones stops them spreading. And they're honest that brambles can be tricky to get rid of completely, often taking time and patience.
What we do, and what we don't
I'll be straight with you so there are no surprises later. On a clearance we cut everything back to ground level or low stumps, and we never dig out roots. Digging out roots is a much heavier job with different kit, so it's not in any of our quotes, and we say so in writing.
That means brambles we've cut will try to come back. What keeps them down is the follow up:
- Keep it cut. Regular cutting keeps the regrowth down and stops new stems rooting. On the Llanelli garage job the customer now has the lawn cut every two weeks at £25.
- Treat the regrowth. Where weed killing is the right answer we put it on the quote, like the £50 of weed killing on that same garage job for the bindweed. For drives, paths and gravel there's our weed spraying at £5 per m² for light weeds or £7 for heavy, with a £100 minimum.
- Dig the roots out yourself, if you want them gone for good and you're up for it. Once we've cleared the top growth, the stumps are easy to find.
Real bramble clearance prices
These are what customers paid on bramble jobs we did and filmed in 2026, all cut back to ground level or low stumps, none with roots dug out.
| Job | What was there | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Garage and back gate, Llanelli | Brambles, bindweed and nettles through the walls, done in a morning, four bags | £300 (£250 clearance plus £50 weed killing) |
| Family garden, Llanelli | Brambles across the lawn, wire buried in the growth, customer kept the waste | £255 |
| Locked out for two years, Llanelli | Brambles, buddleia and small trees, a full day for two of us | £530 with waste |
| Bramble path, Llwynhendy | Brambles on ground full of bricks and breeze blocks, a full day | £730 (£630 plus £100 waste) |
Big bramble jobs where nobody knows what's underneath often work out best as a booked day: 1 person £360, 2 people £600 or 3 people £840 for 8 hours on site, with one van load of green waste included. More clearance prices are in how much garden clearance costs in Llanelli.
Check for nesting birds first
Bramble patches can have nests in them as well as hedges. Under section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it's an offence to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it's in use or being built, so between March and August we check before we cut and leave any section with an active nest. Autumn and winter are the easiest time to clear brambles.
Sources: RHS, brambles and other woody weeds; Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, section 1. Prices are from our own 2026 jobs and videos.
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