Question
What is the best product or products to use to get rid of brush, ivy and berry vines? I have had goats eat all vegetation and now would like to remove the roots and leftover vines.

Answer
Hello Debbie-
How wonderful that you've gotten goats to eat the vegetation! Now, about those roots and leaf-less vines, the major question is whether you want to remove them with (1# man-made chemicals; #2# organic controls; or #3) elbow grease.  First, man-made chemicals: If you don't choose to wave the "organic" flag -- and, hey, no judging here! -- your best bet is either Round-Up or Ortho's Brush-B-Gone.  Both are widely available at garden centers and hardware stores.  Look for herbicides that contain glyphosates and/or tryclopr; these are systemic, which means you can brush, pour, or spray them on stems and leftover vegetation and they will be absorbed into the root system. Most herbicides can be poured or sprayed heavily into the soil over the root ball area.  Second, organic controls: Some people swear by clove oil.  Others use a scalding hot mixture of water, lots of salt, and soap.  These ingredients, which are all-natural, can be effective, and there are many "recipes" on the Internet, accessible via any good Google search. It is especially important to use organic controls if you are working near any plants you plan to eat. Third, elbow grease.  For poison ivy and other really stubborn vines, I think that digging out the roots -- several times, in fact -- may be the only sure-fire way to eradicate the vines.  And, speaking of fire, I am sure I don't have tot tell you that you should never burn poison ivy, as the smoke/fumes - if inhaled - can infect throat and lung-tissue with the toxins from the plant.  If you aren't talking about poison ivy, then never mind.  Now is the perfect time to get digging and spraying though, as new growth emerges in the spring.  Good luck!