When and how to properly prune blackberries for a good harvest
In order for the blackberry to bear fruit well in the coming season, it is required to do the correct pruning. Also, the procedure will contribute to the formation of a beautiful appearance and increase the size of the fruit. If the fruiting branches are not removed annually, as a result, the plant will cease to produce crops. Therefore, it is important to know everything about pruning blackberries, when and how to do it correctly.
The benefits and necessity of pruning
Blackberries are biennial plants. This means that only branches from last year and once can bear fruit. New shoots grow in summer, gain strength and prepare for fruiting in the next season. Therefore, when the berries are harvested, the old branches become unnecessary. They shade young shoots and hinder their development. If you do not cut them off in time, then next season the fruits will become small and it will be very difficult to get to the berries.
For a good harvest, pruning should not be neglected, since the presence of unnecessary shoots will contribute to the development of diseases and a decrease in the volume of the crop.
What to look for
Blackberries annually give many new shoots, if they are not cut out, then thickening cannot be avoided. Thinning is best when the bushes are still dormant. The ideal time is spring, when leaf buds swell and it becomes clear which shoots have suffered from frost. You should start with those that grow on the side. Cut at the root.
All varieties develop a lot of growth around the roots, which must be removed. If the procedure is not carried out in time, the bush will weaken, as it will become impenetrable to sunlight. As a result, various diseases will begin to develop, and the culture will be attacked by pests.
In addition, it will be difficult for the plant to survive the winter, since the blackberry needs proper pruning.
Timing of pruning garden blackberries
Spring pruning aims to remove frozen shoots. Autumn - getting rid of old branches, and summer - to stimulate the growth of side shoots.
New, only planted seedlings do not need pruning in the spring. And require special care:
- Young shoots that appear in summer are tied to a wire.
- Lateral shoots appearing in the leaf axils are cut to 1 leaf.
- In winter, it is required to remove the shoots, leaving the 3 strongest ones, and shorten them by two-thirds.
- The next year, many new shoots will begin to grow from the rhizome. You will need to leave a maximum of 6 strong ones and tie them to the trellis, while distributing them left and right.
In the spring
The bush is inspected when the threat of frost has passed. Visually determine the viability of the whip. If it has elasticity, a healthy sheen and a brown tint, then the plant has survived the winter. All brittle, black and rough specimens are removed.It is recommended to remove shoots that are in doubt. They will yield fewer berries than a healthy specimen.
Summer
In upright varieties, the growing point is located in the center of the trunk. To stimulate the growth of the side branches, you will need to pinch the top. This procedure is called pinching. Summer pruning is carried out in early June. The tops are pruned 7 centimeters to provoke branching. In July, when young bushes reach 1 meter, the tops are pruned. After fruiting, the branches from which all the fruits have been removed are completely cut off. In August, stepchildren, who have reached a length of 40 centimeters, are removed and shortened to 4 sheets. Long bushes should also be shortened in the second decade of August.
If there are many buds left on the stepsons, then the harvest will be more abundant in the coming season, but the berries will grow small and not fragrant.Summer pruning should not be skipped. Otherwise, chaos will form from the shoots, which will complicate the harvesting process.
In autumn
At this time of the year, pruning is carried out for the winter, which allows:
- Rational use of nutrients supplied to the plant. All the necessary items will receive a young shoot, not an old and useless one.
- Increase frost resistance. The sun will fall into the center of the bush, and new shoots will be easier to insulate if necessary.
- Normalize the overall load on the plant, which will contribute to a good harvest.
Autumn pruning of young lashes will stimulate future flowering, and the fruiting part of the plant is completely cut off at the root.
Also:
- get rid of thin and small lashes;
- cut off branches damaged by pests, since they cannot survive the frost;
- to stimulate a good peduncle, young and thick shoots are cut by a quarter;
- pruning is carried out above the bud, hemp should not be left, as they rot and infect the bush.
Blackberry pruning schemes for beginners
A special method of formation in the spring will help facilitate autumn pruning and get the richest harvest. Care depends on the type of crop.
Erect varieties
This variety has a high level of winter hardiness, but it is recommended to warm it during severe winters. During the procedure, it is easy to damage the plant, therefore, the bushes should be prepared in advance:
- in springtime, they remove frozen shoots and old branches that were not harvested before winter;
- biennial overwintered shoots must be lifted and tied to the trellis in an upright position;
- young shoots are attached to the bottom of the trellis at a slight slope.
Such preparation distributes the plants according to the age. Bushes that will yield crops this season and become useless are located in the center, and it will be easy to find and remove them in the fall.
Correct autumn bush formation:
- Lignified bushes located in the middle of the trellis are removed. Cut them off completely.
- They choose strong branches and leave only 8-9 of the best ones. The rest are cut at the root.
- The green growth is shortened by a quarter. Then spread on the ground in the form of a fan and cover with straw. In the spring, you need to tie them up at the bottom of the trellis.
Shrub blackberries are pruned 8 centimeters each summer to encourage lateral growth. Autumn pruning consists in removing branches that have borne fruit. They must be cut off and carefully removed from the wire so as not to damage the remaining bushes with the barbed part.
Creeping varieties
Blackberries begin to form in the spring. Young shoots are selected that will winter. Leave 10 pieces, and the rest are cut at the root.New shoots are also cut off. Hemp should not remain after the procedure. Such a scheme will strengthen the roots and distribute nutrients evenly. If you postpone the procedure, then in the fall you will get a plant in which the vegetative mass will get confused and thickened.
Pruning process:
- Shoots that have wintered must be wound on a wire in the form of a spiral. The direction is chosen to the right.
- Fix young shoots with the same technique, but wind in the opposite direction. This process will separate the fruiting zones and vegetative mass. The process is carried out in the spring.
- Before the cold weather, the part that gave the crop is cut off.
- All young shoots are unwound. Choose 8 strong ones. The rest are cut off. This part will serve as a fruiting zone next year.
- For a variety that has thorns, trenches are dug and left to winter in them. The thornless crop is pressed against the soil and covered with agrofibre.
During the season, new shoots are formed, which must be attached to the wire and placed horizontally. Experienced summer residents recommend removing the lower buds on each branch. When the shoots develop and the fruits ripen, they smear on the ground and deteriorate from watering. In the spring, the upper part of the shoot is cut off, leaving a height of 1.5 meters.
This will greatly stimulate plant growth and better distribute nutrients throughout the blackberry.
Repaired varieties
Repairing blackberry requires the simplest care. After the bushes have yielded the harvest, the shrub is cut to the root. The place where it grew is covered by:
- spruce branches;
- mulch;
- agrofiber;
- straw.
In the spring, the material is removed, then shoots begin to sprout, which will provide more berries at the end of the season.
Pruning blackberries is a prerequisite to ensure a bountiful harvest in the coming season.
Varieties without thorns
Curly varieties without thorns are called "rosette". It is recommended to grow them with side shoots. To do this, they are cut at a height of 4 buds. Pruning is carried out in the spring, before the onset of sap flow. When the plant enters the growing season, lateral shoots will begin to grow from the buds left. First years are left on the ground, as they will not bear fruit. The next year they are lifted onto the trellises. After 3 years, the old branches are cut at the root, since there will be no harvest on them. Do not let the brambles grow chaotically. This will lead to a decrease in yield. Therefore, the extra bushes that appear are cut off completely.
In autumn, the varieties are mulched. The ideal shelter for the autumn period is green manure. Winter - spruce branches and peat.
Blackberry garter after pruning
The most thorny bush in the garden is the blackberry. This prickle is a big problem for crown formation. Correct fit will greatly facilitate subsequent care. Keep the correct distance between plants for free access. For upright people it is 3.5 meters, for creeping people - 4.5 meters. This will allow the shoot to be freely attached to the trellis and facilitate pruning.
Fan
Correct formation:
- Shoots that have wintered and survived are attached to the trellis exactly above the root system in an upright position.
- Small stems must be parted in two directions and tied to the bottom of the support. The height above the ground will need 30 centimeters.
Cable car
This method is suitable for a creeping variety that has reached a length of 10 meters. The branches are collected in one rope and shaped into a cylinder. For this, the assembled bundle is tied with rings, placing them at different heights. This will make it easier to tie the shoots to the support.
When fixing, long branches and young ones are collected in different ropes and directed in opposite directions. Young stems are attached to the lower part of the support.
Wave
The method is suitable for creeping varieties. Process:
- annual shoots are fixed on the upper tiers of the support;
- old branches are formed in waves by tying between the lower and middle rows.
In the fall, two-year-old branches are cut, and in the spring, young stems are placed in their place. So, every year, the old branches are replaced with new ones. The garter ensures comfortable berry picking.
Fertilizing blackberries after pruning
After the measures taken, the plant needs to be fed:
- rotted manure;
- bird droppings solution;
- mature compost.
Top dressing is applied to the near-trunk circle after the weeds have been removed and the soil has been loosened.
