How to Plant a Berry Patch

Study the home landscape to determine a suitable planting location for a berry patch. Pick a site with full sun exposure. Most types of berry plants need direct sunlight for at least six hours per day to produce a bountiful crop.

Kill any existing vegetation at the chosen site with a non-selective herbicide such as glyphosate, at least two weeks before planting, according to label instructions. Unwanted vegetation also can be removed by pulling the plants and digging out their root systems, though this process is much more labor intensive.

Incorporate organic amendments into the soil to improve its fertility and drainage. Top the soil with 3 inches peat moss, 3 inches well-rotted compost and 1 inch perlite or coarse horticultural sand. Till the amendments into the top 12 inches of soil until well-distributed.

Shovel out holes for the berry plants that are twice as wide as their nursery containers. The depth of the holes should be sufficient to allow the plants to sit 1 inch deeper than they were growing in their containers. Leave at least 2-1/2 feet between each planting hole to allow adequate room for development and encourage good air circulation.

Remove the berry plants from their containers and tease out any tangled roots with the tips of your fingers. Place the plants in their individual planting holes, return the displaced soil and firmly tamp down the surface. Provide the berry plants with at least 1 inch of supplemental irrigation after planting to moisten the soil and help it settle.