Cut snowberry to ground level

Cut it down to ground level with a handsaw, large loppers or chainsaw. Cutting alone will not eliminate snowberry as it will regrow from its roots but this is an important first step.

Pull snowberry out from the roots

Small and young snowberry plants can be pulled out from the roots. This is easiest when the soil is soft and wet.

Dig out the roots

Use a pickaxe or shovel to dig out the roots. Mature snowberry roots can grow as deep as 3 feet downward.

Be careful of spreading cuttings

Do not leave cuttings of snowberry on the ground. The cuttings will take root and sprout a new plant. It is very important to take the plant to a disposal facility or bag it in a plastic bag so further spreading does not occur.

Mowing

Cut the snowberry to ground level. If the area is flat enough to mow this is an effective method. Snowberry grows very quickly so the area will need to be mowed weekly in order for this to be effective.

Covering

Cut the snowberry to ground level. Cover the area in an opaque tarp or sheet of plastic. It is very important no light can pass through the covering. This will prevent the snowberry from photosynthesizing and the plants and root system will eventually die after one year or more of being covered.

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What is snowberry?

Snowberry is a kind of invasive plant that's found throughout Vancouver island. This type of plant is known for its aggressive growth, expanding through its root system which continually sprouts new plants. A single snowberry plant can grow quickly into a thick, dense shrub. Typically, snowberry bushes reach a mature height of around 3-6 feet, and they yield glossy white berries towards the end of summer.

What makes snowberry an invasive species?

The invasiveness of the snowberry plant is due to several factors:

• Its ability to multiply from a single plant into a cluster of thousands.
• The speed with which its underground root system expands and brings forth new plants.
• Its resilient nature which allows it to regrow even after being cut.
• Its propensity to grow so thickly that it chokes out native vegetation and completely dominates a given area.
• The high volume of seeds it generates each year.

Why is it important to eradicate snowberry?

There are several reasons why snowberry removal is crucial:

• It tends to overrun and displace native species.
• Its infestations intensify over time.
• It can be detrimental to natural water bodies.
• It can invade and harm neighbouring properties.
• It flourishes and spreads quickly in both urban and natural environments.

How do we permanently eliminate snowberry?

At Ascent Yard Care, we use chainsaws or similar powered tools to remove snowberry bushes, and the cuttings are subsequently gathered up and disposed of. Following this, we use a stump grinder to get rid of the snowberry stumps and roots.

When necessary, we employ eco-friendly treatments to eradicate snowberry. This involves cutting the plant down to the stump, then precisely treating the small new leaves that sprout. Following the treatment the root system will die. Our treatment will not kill other plants and has no soil activity or run off.

Ascent Yard Care has permanently removed hundreds of snowberry infestations since our business was founded in 2017.

How much does snowberry removal cost?

Feel free to get in touch with us for a free in-person quote in Victoria, BC. Jake will provide you with a detailed work order and quote.

Will the snowberry grow back?

In severe infestations, it might take up to 2 follow-up visits to completely eliminate any regrowth. However, most snowberry infestations we treat are permanently removed in a single visit.

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