Blackberries are perennial plants with root systems that last from year to year, but the plant's stems only last two years before being replaced by fresh growth.You'll need to treat first-year canes differently than second- year cans when you're trimming your fruit.Light and heavy pruning should be done in the summer, but only during the dormant season.
Step 1: Cut the part of the stem.
Pruning off two-thirds to three-fourths of the handle or stem will leave a short crown.The buds at the crown of the cutting are stimulated by this.The "crown" of the cutting is the part that extends just above the ground.Any damaged or diseased tissue that may have been on the stem can be removed by cutting off most of it.After planting the cutting in the ground, do this pruning.If you are planting a bush or vine with erect canes, don't cut them back.
Step 2: The first winter, reduce the canes.
You should cut the canes back until they are at least 3 to 4 inches high, because first year growth is usually poor in the first winter.The plant is encouraged to grow canes that can support more fruit.Pruning back the canes so dramatically may not be necessary if you are satisfied with your first year growth.Blackberries can be trimmed according to standard annual requirements.
Step 3: Floricanes should be removed after harvest.
The cane should be removed from the plant by cutting it off near the main stem.The majority of the plant's fruit is produced by second-year canes.You should remove them because they are spent after producing fruit.The canes bore fruit that year.You should be able to see fruit stalks on the canes even after the berries have been removed.
Step 4: Go to the primocanes.
You should back down to your desired height once each primocane has exceeded it's height.The canes are new.They should grow into brown canes by fall.The blackberries should be headed down so that they are 48 to 60 inches above the ground.Less vigorous erect and semi-erect blackberries should be headed to a height between 36 and 48 inches, and between 10 and 15 inches above the top wire.Heading causes the cane to stiffen.The cane will be less likely to break once it stiffens.Heading encourages the development of buds in the primocanes.The plant has fruiting branches.The plant can produce more fruit if it has more branches.
Step 5: Make some space.
If the plant gets too crowded, you should clean out canes.It increases the amount of light received by the plant.The blackberries are less prone to disease as a result of this.If there are multiple blackberry plants in a row, cut back the low base canes at the base of the rows to keep them from crowding each other out.When cutting off dying flowers, remove weak primocanes.Poor foliage growth, damaged foliage, or signs of disease can cause primocanes to be weak during active growth.
Step 6: There are root suckers.
You can allow root suckers to grow into rows up to 30 cm wide.You should trim them back down to a width of 12 inches (30 cm) once they reach this point.The crown or base of the plant is where root suckers grow.They don't develop fruit, and once they grow too long, they start stealing energy from the rest of the plant.
Step 7: Wait until late winter to do so.
Before the plants return to a state of active growth, heavy dormantPruning should be performed.It is best to have late winter and early spring.The tips of canes can be injured.You should wait until the winter is over so that you can take care of the damages.During the dormant season, the occurrence of wounds can be reduced by doing the majority of your heavyPruning.
Step 8: Don't let the primocanes go to waste.
It's a good idea to shorten all of the primocanes on your plant.You can encourage fruiting shoots on the lower portion of the canes by cutting them back.The plant spends less energy on growing outward and more on fruit production.
Step 9: The lower primocanes need to be removed.
For upright blackberries, thin out the new primocanes produced from root buds and crown buds so that there are only six or eight canes per linear foot.If you are working with a type of berry that does not produce root buds and only produces crown buds, you should remove the weak canes at the base.If there are only five or six per hill, then thin out the remaining new primocanes.
Step 10: Cut back the branches.
The branches should be trimmed back to their original length.Since you are forcing the plant to spend its energy in a more concentrated space, cutting these branches back will encourage larger fruit to form.The canes should be left a bit longer on the vigorous and slower ones.If you notice winter damage on a cane, cut it back far enough to remove it, even if it shortens the branch more than usual.Remove the branches from the canes that are the strongest and the weakest.Reducing the risk of disease and making harvest easier is achieved by improving air circulation.
Step 11: Remove dead and damaged canes.
The canes that have not been removed by this point should be trimmed as well.Any cane with a diameter less than 1/2 inch at its base is weak.Canes that are intertwined with one another should be removed.To prevent the spread of disease or insects, canes should be cut off.