Blackberries (Rubus) often grow wild in the garden. The growth then quickly gets out of control. If you have overgrown blackberries, the following instructions will show you how to cut the bushes correctly.
In a nutshell
- Pruning blackberries is essential for healthy growth and a bountiful harvest
- Cutting time depends on plant condition and age
- Autumn pruning only recommended for certain regions
Best time
If a blackberry bush has gone wild, there are often diseased rods and side shoots. Then immediate action and removal applies. This can be done at any time of the year because there is a high risk of spreading infection and risk of death. Only affected parts of the plant are cut off.
spring
If you want to tame a poached blackberry, cut at the ideal time in spring. March is particularly good for this. Then you can no longer expect extremely low temperatures and the areas that protect against the cold can be shortened. In addition, the beginning of the growing season is imminent. The pruning gives the blackberries an energy boost so that they thrive and produce aromatic fruits.
summer
Around June, a summer cut is recommended if necessary. This is important for the additional control of unwanted proliferation and uncontrolled growth, especially of fast-growing varieties such as "Thornless Evergreen" and "Theodor Reimers".
fall
After the harvest in late summer/autumn, another cut can be made or replace the spring cut in the following year. Older canes and side shoots should be cut to stimulate new growth in the coming spring and to prevent an inferior harvest. However, this is only recommended in regions with mild winter temperatures.
cutting guide
In theory, overgrown blackberries can simply be pruned and the bush cut back heavily. However, as a result, the next harvest will not come. To prevent this from happening, you should proceed carefully and strictly according to the instructions. That's how it's done:
spring cut
- Cut two-year-old and older canes at ground level
- one-year-old rods, except for the strongest four/five, also remove them close to the ground (serves to improve the flow of light and air circulation)
- tie standing rods together so that they only slightly bend to the sides (educational measure)
- Cut back side shoots of the "main canes" to one or two buds
- Remove dead branches and foliage
Tip: If you attach your blackberries to three or more wires on a wire trellis, you can tell old and new shoots apart better and you don't lose track.
summer cut
- Slightly shorten the tips of young tendrils and side shoots
- Clipping canes that are close to the ground to prevent ground ingrowth
fall pruning
If you want to cut overgrown blackberries in a mild region, you can do the cutting work that actually only has to be done with the spring cut. Accordingly, proceed according to the same cutting instructions. The spring cut is not necessary with the fall cut, provided that all necessary cuts are made.
From the second year of pruning
If in the year before the greatest chaos was eliminated by the right cutting technique, from the following year onwards it will continue as follows once a year in spring:
- cut off harvested main shoots close to the ground
- leave another four to five new rods to increase growth - cut off the rest on the ground
- again trim side shoots on main canes down to one or two buds
- If necessary, cut the shoot tips to correct the height
Notice: By growing a certain number of young rods, ideal control and prevention of renewed naturalization can be achieved. This also continuously increases the crop yield. An additional summer cut is only necessary if necessary.
frequently asked Questions
Why do so many fruit shoots have to be cut off?It has to do with the growth process. If several fruit shoots are removed, fewer flowers and consequently fewer berries will form. This saves the shrub a lot of energy and nutrients, which benefit the remaining flowers and the aroma of the fruit. In addition, you “unravel” the overgrowth by cutting it off.
How does a blackberry bush not overgrow again?Once blackberry bushes have been pruned properly for the first time, most varieties will go wild again without further pruning. You can prevent this by not skipping any pruning every spring or autumn. If overgrowth is observed during the season due to weather or fertilization, prune in the summer as well.
How can old and young shoots be distinguished?Young shoots are usually a fresh, rich green. On older side shoots there are often remains of infructescences from the last harvest.