Blackberries are one of the most frustrating weeds on Australian properties. They take over creek lines, fence rows and hillsides, and they thrive in the kind of steep, rough country that makes ground-based spraying a nightmare.
We deal with blackberries more than any other weed in our contracting operation across the Riverina and surrounds. It is one of the most common jobs we get called out for, and it is also one of the best examples of where drone spraying completely changes the game.
In this article, we walk through a real blackberry spraying job using the DJI Agras T100, including a full 20-minute video showing three spray cycles in hill country. If you have been wondering what drone spraying blackberries in Australia actually looks like in practice, this is it.
Watch: DJI Agras T100 Spot Spraying Blackberries in Hill Country
This video shows a complete spraying run from start to finish. Jack walks through the application settings, what is involved in running the job on site, and how we find efficiencies across multiple spray cycles to deliver a precise, even and effective application.
What you will see in the video:
- A full 20-minute spot spraying demonstration targeting blackberry and briar bushes
- Three spray cycles operating alongside our custom-built drone trailer
- Real-time flight footage showing coverage and terrain following
- Practical observations from the pilot’s perspective
- Aerial footage showing the coverage pattern and operation in steep terrain
Why Drone Spraying Is Ideal for Blackberry Control
Anyone who has dealt with blackberries on their property knows the problem. They grow in the places you cannot easily reach: steep gullies, creek banks, rocky hillsides, dense scrub. The traditional options are limited. You can send someone in on foot with a hose, which is slow, physically punishing and often dangerous on steep ground. You can hire a helicopter, which covers ground fast but lacks precision. Or you can just leave them, which means they keep spreading.
Drone spraying sits right in the middle. You get the access of a helicopter, with the precision of ground-based spraying but without the physical danger of sending someone into steep, rough terrain. The DJI Agras T100 in particular handles this type of work well because of its terrain-following radar system, which maintains consistent spray height even over undulating country.
For blackberry specifically, spot spraying is usually the approach. Rather than blanket spraying entire paddocks, we target individual infestations, which reduces chemical use, protects surrounding pasture and keeps costs down for the landholder.
How We Run a Blackberry Spraying Job
Every blackberry job is a bit different depending on the terrain, the size of the infestations and the access available. But the general process is consistent.
Setup
We operate from our custom-built drone trailer, which carries the T100, batteries, water and chemical mix, and everything we need to run multiple cycles without returning to a depot. On a typical blackberry job, we position the trailer as close to the spray area as we can get vehicle access, which becomes the base for the day.
Application Settings
Jack covers the settings in the video, but the general approach for blackberry spot spraying is a relatively low flight speed with a tighter spray width to ensure good coverage and penetration into the canopy. The T100’s 100-litre tank means fewer return trips for refills compared to smaller drones, which makes a noticeable difference on bigger jobs where the infestations are spread across a hillside.
Spray Cycles
In the video you will see three full cycles. Each cycle involves flying out to the target area, spraying the mapped infestations, and returning to the trailer to refill and swap batteries. The turnaround is quick when you have a set of batteries charging while you fly, which is part of how we keep efficiency up on site.
Why We Use the T100 for Blackberry Work
We have flown both the T50 and T100 on blackberry jobs, and the T100 is our go-to for this type of work. The larger tank means more spray time per cycle, which is important when you are covering scattered infestations across a hillside. Less time refilling means more time spraying, and that matters when you are billing by the hour or trying to get through multiple paddocks in a day.
The terrain-following system on the T100 is also critical in hill country. Blackberries love steep gullies and the T100’s radar keeps the drone at a consistent height above the canopy, even as the ground drops away beneath it. You can see this clearly in the aerial footage in the video.
If you are interested in the full specs and pricing, have a look at our DJI Agras T100 product page. For a comparison with the T50, see our T50 vs T100 buyer’s guide.
What Results Can You Expect from Drone Spraying Blackberries?
The effectiveness of any spray application depends on the chemical, the timing and the conditions. But from our experience across thousands of hectares of blackberries around the Riverina and surrounds, drone spraying consistently delivers strong results when the application is done properly.
The key advantages over traditional methods are access and consistency. The drone gets to places that are genuinely difficult or dangerous to reach on foot, and it delivers an even application across the target area. We have seen properties where landholders had been fighting blackberries for years with ground-based methods make real progress once they switched to drone spraying, simply because they could finally reach the whole infestation rather than just the edges.
The cost comparison is also worth noting. Chopper or plane spraying covers ground fast but will also blanket spray over trees and sensitive areas and wastes chemical on non-target areas. Ground-based methods are cheaper per hour but dramatically slower and limited by terrain. Drone spraying sits in the sweet spot for most blackberry jobs: affordable, precise, and able to access difficult country.
Is Drone Spraying Right for Your Blackberry Problem?
Drone spraying blackberries makes the most sense when the infestations are in terrain that is hard to access on foot, or when the area is large enough that hand spraying would take days. If you have blackberries along creek lines, in steep gullies, on rocky hillsides or spread through dense scrub, a drone is probably the most practical and cost-effective solution.
For small, flat, easily accessible patches, a hose might still be the simplest option. We are always upfront about that. But for most of the blackberry work we see across regional NSW, the terrain alone makes drone spraying the obvious choice.
Hire a Contractor or Buy Your Own Drone?
If you are dealing with blackberries on your property, you have two options: hire us to come and do the job, or buy a drone and do it yourself.
For a one-off or seasonal job, hiring a contractor usually makes more sense. We bring everything, we handle the flying and the chemical application, and you get results without the upfront investment. Head to our drone spraying services page or get in touch for a quote.
If you have enough ongoing work to justify owning a drone, or you are looking to start a contracting business of your own, we sell and support the full DJI Agras range. Check out our guide to starting an agricultural drone business for the full rundown on what is involved.
Get in Touch
Whether you need blackberries sprayed on your property or you are thinking about buying a drone to handle it yourself, we are happy to have a straight conversation about what makes sense for your situation. Contact us here or call us on 0423 440 891.
