A list of the 5 most frustrating garden problems would probably include tough weeds like this as well as mud, moles and moss. Several different varieties of blackberries inhabit western Washington, and the fact that they grow so abundantly testifies to how good this climate is for berries of all sorts. The wild berries, the most troublesome of them being the introduced Himalayan blackberry, Rubus discolor , form thickets of mythic depth and height. One approach to blackberries is picking them for jelly and pies. This requires heavy canvas clothing, often too hot for the weather.
Gloves get in the way of picking, so plan to be thoroughly scratched and ripped.
Choose an area out of the way of direct traffic exhaust where no herbicides have been sprayed. One of the delights of my Ohio childhood was the fragrance rising from a pail of wild blackberries gathered by my grandfather. Pies were the most delectable part of August eating. However, if your land borders on a romping heap of blackberry vines, or if you have a clump that's taken up residence and threatens to bury the garage, management is feasible. Be persistent and watch for seedlings, which are spread by birds.