Pruning blackberries: when & how to do it?

Without the right care, a handsome bramble bush quickly turns into a wild, prickly and impenetrable hedge. With us you will learn everything about the necessary pruning of blackberries.

Blackberries (Rubus sect. Rubus) form a section of the worldwide plant genus Rubus , which belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae). It is closely related to the raspberry (Rubus idaeus). The plant is widespread in its wild form and likes to grow on forest edges and in forests, slopes and railway embankments, from which one likes to pinch a few berries in passing. Some cultivated forms for the garden are now thornless and are in no way inferior to their wild relatives in terms of taste. For a high yield and the he alth of the plant, it is important to prune it regularly. With us you will learn everything about pruning blackberries.

Do you have to cut back blackberries?

Yes - blackberries should be pruned to keep them in shape and ensure yield. This is supported, for example, by the fact that blackberries have their fruit on one-year-old wood - i.e. only on the branches that were formed in the previous year. Older, worn shoots, on the other hand, no longer bear fruit. For a good fruit setting, it is therefore advisable to cut back the blackberry regularly and only leave the one-year-old canes that will soon bear fruit on the plant. The pruning also keeps the plant in shape and only grows in the specified paths without overgrowing neighboring plants or the rest of the garden. Ultimately, regular pruning also helps keep the plant he althy, as potentially disease-prone shoots and diseased rods and leaves are removed.
Regular pruning also prevents overhanging shoots from rooting in again. This avoids the formation of a thicket. Blackberries sprout from their basal buds or from the roots, so the rooted shoots are not important to the maintenance of the shrub.

Pruning blackberries: Whenis the right time?

Due to the rapid growth of blackberries, a targeted pruning several times a year is necessary. For a high fruit load, it is important to leave the one-year-old, fruit-bearing canes on the plant and only cut out the older ones. The old and young shoots can usually be easily distinguished by their color and texture, as the younger ones are greener, smoother and less woody. But when do you cut back blackberries?

Pruning blackberries after planting

The first cut of blackberries is already necessary immediately after planting. This gives the plant the optimal conditions for he althy growth and strong root development. Only 1 or 2 strong shoots are left standing while the other shoots are shortened. Check out our special article on how to properly plant blackberries.

Pruning the blackberry bush in spring

In general, blackberries should be pruned in spring because the old shoots protect the young shoots from the winter cold and frost. The worn-out, older parts of the blackberry are radically pruned back to the ground so that the plant puts its energy into the development of the new, flowering canes and thus more light gets to the young tendrils.

Pruning blackberries in summer

After the harvest, the formed young canes are cut in summer, which should bear fruit next year. This reduces the number of axillary shoots that emerge, which improves the quality of the remaining canes and the fruits formed on them. The flowering of the blackberry is not simultaneous on all buds, but moves from the last bud towards the base. By pruning the young shoots, this induction of flowering takes place more evenly - which later leads to even ripening of the berries.

How to cut blackberries?

When pruning the blackberry, one or the other special feature has to be observed depending on the time. Choose the right equipment before cutting: Wear gloves to avoid injuries from the sharp thorns of the blackberry. A pair of sharp rose scissors makes the job easier while reducing the risk of disease or fungal infection. Check the plant for diseases and pests every time you cut it. The accruingPlant material can be used in the compost if it is free of infections. It is also advisable to tie the rods upwards on a trellis so that there is no contact with the ground and the shoots do not take root.

Regular Blackberry Pruning

The blackberry plants in the garden are pruned immediately after planting and from then on regularly throughout the spring and summer. At the different times, do the following:

Blackberry Plant Cutting

1. Select 1 or 2 strong shoots from the freshly planted blackberry and shorten them to a length of about 20 to 30 cm.
2. Cut back all other shoots close to the ground.

Spring Pruning Blackberry

1. Separate the biennial, worn shoots from the young shoots. With blackberries grown on a trellis, separating the old and young canes to the left and to the right can make this work easier.
2. Prune back the two-year-old shoots as close to the ground as possible. If you are unsure what the young canes are, you can wait until the fruit set before you cut them.
3. Select the 4 to 7 strongest annual canes and remove the remaining ones close to the ground. Tie the remaining shoots up the trellis or trellis.
4. If the young canes already have side shoots, these are shortened to around 2 to 3 eyes or buds.
5. Remove dead and frozen shoots, down to the he althy wood.

Summer Pruning Blackberry

1. The new young shoots from the current year can be cut back to 3 to 5 eyes.
2. Very long-growing, bearing shoots can be pruned back to produce fewer but larger fruits and to prevent sagging.

Tip: Some varieties, such as 'Theodor Reimers', form additional stinging shoots in the axillary buds on the supporting rods, which can be easily removed from the leaf axils with scissors, without doing so damaging the main shoot.

Pruning side shoots

By shortening the side shoots, which in some varieties are formed on young shoots in the year before flowering, the yield is boosted. To do this, the corresponding side shoots are cut back to about 2 to 3 eyes or buds. In the year of harvest, more fruit-bearing ones sprout hereSide shoots out.

Pruning Columnar Blackberries

Pruning columnar blackberries is no different from pruning other species. The upright growing varieties are very easy to care for, as they only form new shoots from the base. The canes rarely touch the ground and therefore fewer rooted shoots are produced. They can therefore be cut in the same way as other types of blackberries. Pulled on a vertical trellis, they still need some attention, as their wild and sprawling growth quickly makes them look unaesthetic. This growth form is best cut in March, before the new shoots. Also shorten the height of the plant and adjust it to the climbing aid.

Are you satisfied with the regular pruning of your blackberry and is the plant bearing well? Then take the opportunity and learn how easy it is to propagate blackberries.