Hi Beth!

I can appreciate your determination to rid your property of barberry; it is a plant that causes many problems, from increased tick populations to creating soil that is less habitable for native species. 

Although flame weeding for barberry has been recommended by University of Connecticut Extension, UMD Extension does not recommend it in areas with burnable materials such as mulch, wood, dry leaves, or ornamental grasses. Since barberry is a perennial, the flame weeder will not necessarily kill the roots, so it will likely regrow next year. 

Effective control strategies for Japanese barberry are available for homeowners, professional landscapers, and managers of parks and preserves. Small plants can be pulled by hand when the soil is damp and loose, using thick gloves to avoid injury from the spines. The root system is shallow, making it easy to pull plants from the ground. Young plants can be dug up individually using a hoe or shovel. It is important to get the entire root system because Japanese barberry can resprout from root fragments. Repeated severe cutting or mowing will eventually kill the plants. Clipping, bagging and disposing of fruits will prevent dispersal from gardens into natural areas. 

For large infestations, herbicides containing glyphosate or triclopyr can be applied in late summer either to the foliage or as basal bark or cut stump applications, to further reduce potential impacts to native plants. Because of Montgomery County's law restricting the use of pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer, we recommend contacting Montgomery County's Department of Environmental Protection to confirm whether the recommended herbicide is compatible with the law on private property. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/lawns/law/faqs.html

Jamie

My pleasure! Best of luck.

Jamie