Weed Control in Blackberries

Rows

• Increase the access space in a blackberry garden by creating rows 4 feet apart. This is wide enough to create proper airflow and allow you to walk between to rows and remove weeds as they appear. A small garden tractor may fit between the rows for plowing heavily weeded paths, if needed.

Mulch

• Applying a 3- to 4-inch layer of straw mulch around blackberry canes helps control weed growth. Put down straw free of weeds and seeds to prevent introducing new weeds and unwanted plants to the blackberry garden. Chopping the mulch into 3- to 5-inch-long pieces will help it lay flat on the ground for reduced weed penetration.

Planting

• Planting blackberry canes 18 to 24 inches apart in the rows will make it easy to remove weeds that sprout between the plants. This also creates enough space to apply mulch around the each cane for reduced weed growth.