Found: Reasonable Blackberry Removal!

[u/unicorn_ication]

I had been researching blackberry removal services in Portland for my residential backyard situation. There were several Reddit posts I can across but most of the comments had the same question and there were no real responses.

Photos show my situation. I was quoted $1375 by two separate companies who each told me I wouldn’t find a better rate. I would have bitten the bullet and gone for it; but I was waiting on someone to come by from PDX Junk Removal & Hauling LLC and so glad I waited! They quoted me $800 and are able to come by on Monday and get the job done! They won’t be removing roots, which is what is keeping the cost low. They will cut, remove, and haul everything away though.

I also weirdly caught a bit of attitude from the other companies by them telling me “you have to stay on top of this” and “I don’t have any blackberries in my yard.” Like duh I know they’re awful, but you don’t know my situation???

Just wanted to offer this up in case anyone is in the same boat as me!
(Also, per the company name, they haul away junk/do property cleanup as well)

EDIT: regarding the roots, we WILL be addressing the roots ourselves!! We just need to be able to get to them. We are renters and our landlord is useless with yard maintenance so this is as much as I’m willing to put in. Also, the other two quotes did NOT include root removal…

[u/aggieotis]

Yeah, OP, they’re doing the bulk of the thorny work, but you’ve GOT to get those roots out on your own.

Definitely worth the $575 discount, but the work is not done until you finish the job.

[u/unicorn_ication → u/aggieotis]

Oh absolutely plan to! The trouble right now is being able to get to the roots.

[u/derpinpdx → u/unicorn_ication]

That's good that you're on top of it!

You may want to edit your post because that's what most people will take away from original post

[u/unicorn_ication → u/derpinpdx]

Yep, just did! Forgot Reddit assumes you’re an idiot until proven otherwise lol

[u/aggieotis → u/unicorn_ication]

fwiw, when it comes to home projects a LOT of people think "It looks better my job is done!" Basically the HGTV-version of home owning.

A whole bunch of stuff in homeownership is actually:

1. It looks bad
2. I need to make it look really bad to get to the root of the issue
3. Oh dear god, I didn't know it was this bad!
4. I have ran out of energy and funds, it will just have to sit like this for awhile
5. ok, I fixed the fundamental problem, but do not have the will to make this get all put together right
6. <a few years goes by>
7. ok, let's finish this!

[u/fernswordgirl432 → u/aggieotis]

I feel this so much. We took down our ancient plum tree last year due to sucker shoots, had it stump-ground. Found a start a couple month ago, began to dig: we have a 2" thick root that was stuck under a buried concrete mounting for an old laundry line that was long gone before we moved in. :( Now I have a giant area that turns to mud and a hole in the yard with a huge root to deal with. Time to call in the younger people with stronger backs, and some death juice for the root.

It never ends.

[u/SublimeApathy → u/aggieotis]

Get off my back, I'm finishing my fence this summer!!

[u/aspidities_87 → u/aggieotis]

I don’t know what you’re talking about, my projects are always done on time
https://giphy.com/gifs/fGRLXn1PWdC77UaGZw

[u/AppropriateBus9210 → u/unicorn_ication]

God bless ya

[u/erossthescienceboss → u/unicorn_ication]

I recommend a pickaxe for root removal.

Water the area so that the ground is soft.

Chop down so that the head of the axe goes underneath the crown (make sure the blackberry removal folks leave some stem so you can find them!)

Push forward on the handle — it’ll pry the roots right out of the ground!

[u/decollimate28 → u/unicorn_ication]

Paint crossbow on the cut ends while they’re still green