Feel so bad for you. I have been battling greenbrier for years too. As you know it spreads by underground runners which I've had success in prying up and following back to a tuber like thing, orange in color which btw sends out multiple runners.

Using a heavy garden fork and spade for leverage seems to work best for me, and there are many tools specifically designed for root removal. At times I've cut it at ground level which prevents the vine from flowering and berrying but locating and removing the tubers and runners has really slowed the progression of this nasty and painful vine in my woods.

There are also chemical products but old fashioned digging to locate that tuber gives me great satisfaction in dealing with this beast of a weed! Persevere, it may take you a few seasons, but you'll win.

Susan zn6b coastal MA

Thank you for your input, Bloomin! So good to hear someone has had success in making a dent in the progress of this stupid bramble.

I too hate to use chemicals on it. I do for poison ivy because I'm horrendously sensitive to it, but don't want to go further down that slippery slope & start spraying anything else.

My worry is that I'm still in the process of killing the PI on that hillside and have already caught a terrible case of it from digging and handling PI roots a little carelessly. So...I think I'm going to put off the digging of catbriar runners till next summer. For now I'll just pull up what I can where I can. ...And perhaps look for a Hazmat suit!!! (Just kidding, haha! :-D More like get my courage up for an all-out assault next summer...