Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants How to kill briers

This spring I have briers growing on the ponds banks and dam. What can I use to kill them but not my fish and grass?
Thanks

I am not familiar with the restrictions on using it around water, but I have used Milestone with briars and am amazed by the success. Only grass present where I used to have briars! It's expensive, but a little bit goes a LONG way!

From the label:
"Do not apply directly to water. Take care to minimize the incidental overspray along the shoreline when applying to terrestrial plants at the water’s edge or to water in areas where surface water is present."

"This product should be applied only when the potential for drift to adjacent sensitive areas (e.g., residential areas, bodies of water, non-target crops, and other plants) is minimal (e.g., when wind is blowing away from the sensitive areas)."

"Control of Terrestrial Weeds Near and Up to the Water’s Edge

"Milestone can be used to treat terrestrial weeds that extend up to the
water’s edge. Do not apply directly to water. This product must not be
used to treat vegetation standing in the water. When controlling terrestrial
weed species near and up to the water’s edge, take precautions to
minimize incidental overspray to the adjacent water. Consult local public
water control authorities before applying this product near public waters.
Permits may be required to treat such areas. Apply the specified rate
(listed in Table 2) of Milestone as a coarse low-pressure spray as ground
broadcast or spot applications. Do not apply aerially for control of weeds
growing at or near the water's edge. Spray volume should be sufficient
to uniformly cover foliage. Increase the spray volume to ensure thorough
and uniform coverage when target vegetation is tall and/or dense. It is
also permissible to treat target weeds within dry non-irrigation ditches and
seasonally dry transitional areas between upland and lowland sites (such
as flood plains, deltas, marshes, prairie potholes, or vernal pools) but only
at times when those sites are dry and are forecasted or managed by water
control systems to remain dry for at least 2 weeks following application."

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/agrian-cg-fs1-production/pdfs/Milestone_Label1p.pdf

There are a lot of different species of prickly plants around the country that are called briars.

Can you identify your exact plant species? (There may be a noxious weed department in your county that could help with the identification and make an expert treatment recommendation.)

I have some invasive plants that are relatively easy to control by foliar spraying (spraying the leaves and stems). However, this type of treatment will almost certainly result in some overspray going into your pond.

Some plants are very difficult to control - even when you soak the leaves with a powerful herbicide. For these plants you are much better off using a "cut stem" treatment. This is more work, but if that is the recommended treatment for your type of briars, then it will be much more effective AND keep the herbicide out of your pond.

If possible, whack the plants off clean at whatever height is easiest for you. (Use a machete, heavy weed trimmer, loppers, as you determine which is easiest.) Do about 10 plants then apply poison. Some plants are amazingly quick at sealing up their vascular systems.

For some of my herbicides, I like a mason jar and a paintbrush. Brush a thick layer of poison on the fresh cut, then stick the brush in a 7-11 cup, seal the mason jar and drive over to the next briar location. This method will not get herbicide in your pond.

EXCEPTIONS
There are a few "systemic" herbicides that can work down from a plant's surface foliage, then into the roots, then into the groundwater in the soil. These COULD work into your pond. However, these herbicides are not typically available at your "big box" hardware stores.

Good luck fighting your briars!

I have the same "briar" problem here. Wild blackberries, Green briar and Multi-flora rose.

Milestone is good and will kill the briars and not the grass although Milestone is expensive. It also works very good on thistles. I would first try brush killer and it will not kill grass. Report back here with your success.