Care of Domestic Blackberries

Planting Conditions

• Blackberry plants should be planted where they will receive plenty of sun, as they need to be fully exposed to sunlight all day. The soil they are planted in should also drain water well. If, however, the soil is not well-draining, the top few inches should be mixed with potting soil, peat moss or compost. Remember to separate the plant's roots before planting so that the roots spread out quickly.

Upright Plants

• Training upright-growing blackberries to grow neatly around posts is convenient and simple. Posts should be about 6 feet tall and 3 inches wide and placed about a foot into the ground. Space the posts about three feet apart and tie the plants to each post using string or yarn. The plants should initially be tied loosely to allow them room to grow before the ties are moved. Once the new, leafy canes are about hip high, the growing tip of each one should be pinched back to encourage the canes to branch out.

Trailing Plants

• Trailing blackberry plants should be grown on a wire trellis or fence so that they don't become entangled in grass or weeds. Becoming entangled makes it difficult to harvest the berries. The canes should be given as much room to spread out as possible. Rate of growth every year will vary. To prevent long vines from trailing on the ground and becoming tangled with grass, weeds or themselves, wrap them around two strands of wire. This allows the blackberries to dangle within easy reach and minimizes scratches while harvesting.

Care

• Blackberry plants require about an inch of water every week; therefore, the plants should be watered during any week that at least an inch of rainfall is not received.

  Add a 2-inch-deep layer of mulch around the plants as needed. This should be spread widely to prevent weeds from growing and stealing the plants' water, nutrients and sunlight.

  Canes will only grow leaves during the first year, and will produce berries after their second year. After canes have produced berries, they should be cut away, or they will die. In addition, cutting away old canes will allow the newer ones that have not yet produced berries to receive the sunlight and nutrients they need, and that the older canes no longer need.

  During the winter, the canes should be placed on the ground and covered with clean straw or leaves if your area doesn't receive much snow. In the early spring, carefully place them up on the wire before they start growing again. In milder winter climates, the new canes can be trained on the trellis or fence as soon as the fruiting canes have been cut away, and they can be left there throughout the winter. In the spring, organic fertilizer should be added to provide nutrients without burning the plants' lower leaves.