How to Prune my Blackberry

[greenjelly]

In May I moved into a new house with a 120ft garden. At the bottom is a large patch of blackberry bushes. The previous owner planted them a few years ago and they have obviously been well cared for. I'm a bit new to this game and Im not sure how much to prune off them.

I have had a bumper crop of berry's this year and want to ensure the same happens in future years. The bushes have grown considerably over the summer with some very long wippy branches that have attacked us on our way past the patch!

How much shall I prune off and when is the best time to do it?

Greenjelly

[WendyC]

My understanding is to take out up to a third of the oldest wood right down to the soil. You can do it any time before the spring. Old wood looks, well - old! Dull as opposed to new growth which tends to have more of a sheen to it. Also worth removing any branches which are dead, dying or diseased or crossing over and rubbing. Puny stems can get the chop too. Go slowly or you'll find it's all gone before you know it. That's what I do but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will have other ideas. As for gooseberries - I'm none the wiser but that's a whole new thread! Good luck

[Aberdeenplotter]

This is blackberry not black currant so the cut out a third bit doesn't work. Blackberries throw up growth this year which will fruit next year and then die back. The best way to manage it is to train the new growth to one side this year where it will fruit next year. Next year, train the new growth to the other side where it will fruit the following year. Growth that has fruited can be pruned out as you go .

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have just pruned my blackberry. First identify this years new growth (runners) it usually comes from below ground, as AP suggests this should be tied in to the location of choice. Then take out all the old wood down to ground level. This seems severe but they only fruit on new wood.

If you can manage to train the new runner in a horizontal fashion this will increase their length and so increase next years yield.

Colin

[WendyC]

Whoops should read properly!

[Aberdeenplotter]

Whoops should read properly!

ermhh shoulda gone to Specsavers ?

[broadway]

This is blackberry not black currant so the cut out a third bit doesn't work. Blackberries throw up growth this year which will fruit next year and then die back. The best way to manage it is to train the new growth to one side this year where it will fruit next year. Next year, train the new growth to the other side where it will fruit the following year. Growth that has fruited can be pruned out as you go .

Can I hijack and ask a question please?

Hi AP,

Only got my blackberries last month, I assume I should leave them to their own devices next year then prune using the method above at the end of the season?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Depends on how old the bush is, usually the answer to your question would be yes if its a young plant.

Runners should be starting to grow now tie those in and thats where you should get fruit next year.

Colin

[broadway]

Hi Colin,

Year old apparently, I potted them on but intend to put them in the ground, once I decide where!

[Aberdeenplotter]

Depends on how old the bush is, usually the answer to your question would be yes if its a young plant.

Runners should be starting to grow now tie those in and thats where you should get fruit next year.

Colin

Wot he said

[broadway]

Cheers mucker