How to Plant & Grow Blackberry Bushes

Prepare a planting site for blackberry bushes in full sunlight with fertile loam. The blackberry bush prefers a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.7. The site should be well-draining.

Soak the roots of bare-root blackberry plants in a bucket of water three hours prior to planting the bushes. Blackberry roots should never dry completely out prior to planting.

Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the blackberry bush's root system. Plant the roots of the blackberry bush 2 to 3 inches below the soil's surface. Firm the soil over the bush's root system to remove all air pockets by tamping the dirt down with your hands.

Cut all the stems of the blackberry bush down to 3 to 4 inches after planting using a pair of hand-held pruning shears. Pruning away the canes will make the blackberry bush produce new canes and bush out for a fuller appearance.

Water the blackberry bush thoroughly once planted. Keep the bush moist, but not waterlogged.

Hand pull any weeds that grow around the blackberry bush. Avoid heavy cultivation because the plant's shallow root system can easily suffer damage.

Fertilize the blackberry bushes using a general purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer 30 to 60 days after planting the blackberry bushes. Apply at a rate of 20 lbs. per 1,000 square feet of garden space. Fertilize established blackberry bushes each spring.

Pinch off the growing tips of the blackberry bush canes when they reach 4 feet to encourage a bushier plant. Prune away old canes that produced berries the previous year during the late winter months. Prune the side canes down to a height of 12 inches on the plant.