How to Start Blackberry Plants

Choose a place in your yard that gets full sun exposure all day. Blackberries thrive in sunshine, and they need soil that drains well. If you have clay soil, add some mulch, potting soil, compost or peat moss to make the soil drain better.

Dig a hole for the plant, removing any roots or parts of roots that you see. Comb through the soil by hand and remove any seeds. The hole should be large enough to plant the roots without crowding them against each other. If the plant is bare root, spread the roots widely before burying them. If the plant is taken from a pot, break up the potting soil gently to let the roots spread out.

Water the entire planting area as soon as the roots are buried. The water will help the blackberry roots to settle more deeply within the soil and will help to keep the soil in place. Water the plant once a week, supplying an inch of water each time. If you live in an area that gets little rain, add some pine straw or mulch over the soil to keep the water within the soil for a longer period.

Add fertilizer to the plants every spring. With regular watering and yearly fertilizing, your blackberry plants should start producing berries during their second year and continue for many years afterward.