Sweet briar control

Access all the information needed for control of this noxious weed, including weed identification, herbicide application and spray timings.

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Weedsheet

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Woody Weed Control Guide
Weed Identification

Description

Sweet briar description

Sweet briar identification

Sweet briar is a member of the rose family. A deciduous, upright shrub with arching branches containing backward curving prickles that can reach 3 m in height. It has an extensive shallow root system. Suckering occurs freely from the crown, and bushes often exceed 1 m in diameter at the base.

The leaves have five to seven oval leaflets, each with serrated edges. Pink to white fragrant flowers consist of a single row of five petals, while the fruit (hips) are bright red when ripe and often have bristles. Each hip contains many small yellow seeds.

Sweet briar is a perennial woody shrub that readily establishes itself in areas of moderate soil fertility where there is little pressure from livestock.

Sweet briar control

Controlling sweet briar

For best control of sweet briar use Grazon Extra at a rate of 500 mL/100 L of water as a high volume application, on plants up to 1.5 m tall from full leaf to ripe fruit prior to leaf fall. Ensure a thorough wetting of the entire plant including the crown.

When using Access on sweet briar use the rate of 1 L/60 L of diesel or Biosafe and apply as a basal bark or cut stump application. Do not treat during winter.

When using Tordon Granules on sweet briar hand apply 35 to 45 g/m². Use the higher rate on larger bushes and on very sandy, gravelly or rocky soil and in areas where very high rainfall is usual.

Herbicides for control of sweet briar

Product^#	Method of application	Rate*	State
Access^® Herbicide	Basal bark and Cut stump	1:60 with diesel or Biosafe^§	All
Garlon^® 600 Herbicide	Basal bark and Cut stump	1:30 with diesel or Biosafe^§	All
Grazon^® Extra Herbicide	Foliar spray	500 mL/100 L of water	All
Grazon^® Extra Herbicide	Foliar spray	350 mL + 10 g metsulfuron/ 100 L of water	All
Grazon^® Extra Herbicide	Gas gun application	500 mL/10 L of water	ACT, NSW
Vigilant^® II Herbicide	Cut stump	Apply neat: 3–5 mm layer	All

# Note: Preferred product option in bold. * Consult label for details of growth stage and use, especially where range of rates is given. § Biosafe – trademark used under licence, Victorian Chemical Co Pty Ltd.

Treatment timing

Timing for sweet briar control

When using foliar sprays always treat when the plant is actively growing.

Product	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug
Grazon^® Extra Herbicide
Access^® Herbicide

Key:

Best time to spray/treat

Can spray/treat if conditions are suitable

Do not spray/treat