How to properly prune blackberries in the summer: instructions and diagrams

Pruning blackberries is not a pleasant experience. But without performing this procedure, the gardener runs the risk of being left without healthy shrubs and crops. Pruning is carried out in the summer after the end of fruiting. Schemes and recommendations are suggested in this article.

Why prune blackberries in summer

Blackberries resemble raspberries in appearance and characteristics. It grows rapidly and abundantly.

Too thick green mass causes white spots, rust, didimella, anthracnose.

Is it obligatory

Summer pruning of blackberries is a must for gardeners who want to get a rich harvest. At the same time, the treated bushes acquire a well-groomed appearance and strong immunity.

Cropping functions

The procedure is beneficial for plants. Her the main advantages are in the following points:

1. Blackberries are shrubs with a two-year development cycle. Shoots begin to bear fruit in the second year, and then become useless. They must be removed to prevent thickening and the appearance of pests and diseases.
2. Eliminate old branches, since they provoke the development of infections, take away strength and nutritious juices from young shoots.
3. In addition to forming the top of the bush, experienced gardeners get rid of root growth. In abundance, young plants cover the topsoil and prevent the sun's rays from penetrating between the bushes. The soil does not dry out, rot and diseases appear.
4. During fruiting, pruning is necessary to prepare the blackberry for wintering.

Formed bushes absorb nutrients better, hibernate, correctly distribute the load, form more ovaries next year.

Summer Blackberry Pruning Timing

The recommended time for pruning garden berries is the end of fruiting.

The period also depends on the variety. For example, Natchez and Ouachita blackberries are cultivated in the summer, and Texas and Oregon Thornless in the fall.

The climatic features of the region are also taken into account:

• in the north, the procedure is performed in August;
• in the middle lane and the Volga region - from mid-August to early September;
• in the southern regions - in September, early October.

Auspicious days

According to the lunar calendar, favorable days are considered July 25-27, August 6-8 and 16-20, September 4-6.

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Training

Preparatory stage - pinching the tops... Blackberry whips are more than 5 m long. The tops gradually lean to the ground and quickly take root. Without proper attention, plantings become impenetrable thickets.

Experienced gardeners recommend shortening and tying branches in a timely manner... Pinching young shoots helps stimulate branching. Healthy branches will form until autumn, and next summer each of them will produce a large number of berries.

Some recommendations:

• pinch the tops at a comfortable height;
• blackberries are tied up horizontally, like grapes;
• pinch the next shoots so that 4-5 leaves remain on them;
• lateral branches are left intact.

In central lane and Siberia, it is better not to do a preparatory pinching of a one-year-old blackberry... Branches need time to grow, lay fruit buds, lignify, and the summer in these regions is short.

Advice! A year later, the full pruning procedure begins.

How to properly prune blackberries

Full pruning begins in the second year of plant formation.... The quality and quantity of the crop, the health of the bush will depend on the correctness of its implementation.

Required materials and tools

For work you will need a sharp pruner, gloves, garters... Thorny shoots damage hands, so they take thick cloth gloves.

The secateurs are pretreated in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Garters are needed to fix the branches to the support.

Step-by-step instruction

Procedure:

1. Shoots are neatly tied to a support. This will give them access to the right places.
2. Dry, diseased shoots are removed with pruning shears. Shorten them to the bottom. They do not leave broken, weak branches - they still will not form, they will only interfere.
3. Root shoots are removed at the same time.
4. At the end, long shoots are cut off, growing in a chaotic manner.
5. 4-6 fruiting branches are left on one bush.
6. In addition, the tops are formed so that the blackberries acquire a compact and well-groomed appearance.

Mistakes to Avoid

Beginners leave stumps after removing shoots... Often they become a haven for blackberry aphids, spider mites, stem gall midges, and various caterpillars. The vital activity of pests leads to the appearance of white spot, rust, didimella, anthracnose.

Another mistake is to break out thick branches with your hands.that cannot be cut with the pruner. In this case, it is better to use a sharp saw. Saw the stems neatly, at right angles. It's good if the lower part of the branch is hidden in the ground.

Read also:

How and when to prune raspberries in summer after fruiting

Instructions for breeding raspberries in summer by cuttings

Blackberry pruning schemes

Gardeners grow 4 types of blackberries: upright, creeping, remontant, studless. The pruning scheme depends on the variety.

For upright varieties

Blackberries are distinguished by fragile stems. They practically do not bend. Any careless movement will damage the crown.

Pruning tips:

• procedure is performed after the end of fruiting;
• remove all direct shoots that have formed berries in the current year;
• cut off weak branches, leaving 9-10 of the strongest and healthiest.

If the blackberry belongs to the covering varieties, after pruning it is protected from frost... For this, the vines are wrapped in spunbond and lightly leaned against the ground.

For creeping varieties

This blackberry has flexible, long stems. They grow up to 10 m, so special supports are installed for convenience.

Prune after fruiting, taking into account the following tips:

• completely remove branches on the right side;
• 10 strong shoots are left on the left, and the rest are eliminated;
• make trenches along the bushes;
• vines are removed from the trellises, placed in ditches, covered with warm material.

For remontant varieties

These varieties are considered the easiest to prune. In blackberries, only the shoots of the current year bear fruit, so after harvesting they are completely cut out... Cover the root part with agrofibre.

For studless varieties

These are new varieties with smooth branches. Formed from side shoots.

Cut off deformed, weak, dry stems. Leave about 7 healthy... They are wrapped in warm protective material, slightly tilted to the ground.

Features of pruning young and old blackberries

Key recommendations:

1. Young bushes are shortened by 10-15 cm. In the next season, blackberries will thank them with abundant flowering and fruiting. If most of the stems are cut, the bush will die in winter.
2. Mature plants require removal of old, broken, diseased, damaged shoots. If they remain, the bush will weaken and become sick.

Often, beginners delay pruning, believing that there is still time before winter. But young bushes, cut shortly before frost, do not have time to get stronger and die in winter.

Care after pruning

Blackberries do not require specific care... It is saturated with moisture, pouring up to 3 liters of water under each bush. Do not allow excess moisture, otherwise the root system will rot and die.

Feed the plant nitroammophos, containing 16% nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium. After watering and loosening the soil, dissolve 20 g of the drug in 10 liters of water and pour 200 ml under each root.

Be sure to remove overgrowth and weeds... Inspect the berry for pests. When they are detected, they begin an immediate fight with chemical or folk remedies.

Experienced gardening tips

To avoid irreparable mistakes when pruning blackberries, experienced gardeners recommend that beginners follow simple but effective rules:

1. Leave 4-6 fruiting branches on one bush. Trim the tops to make the berry look well-groomed.
2. In the first year, remove the top and side shoots from the plant, leaving a height of 25-30 cm from the soil surface.
3. In the second year, perform sanitary pruning, additionally pinching the buds at the side branches.
4. In the third year, shorten the top of the lateral stems by 40 cm.
5. On the fourth, to separate young branches from fruiting ones, performing fan or wave pruning.
6. Do not leave hemp, otherwise they will become sources of pests and diseases.
7. Avoid dense thickets. Remove growth in a timely manner.
8. Competently prepare blackberries for wintering.

Conclusion

Pruning blackberries in the summer is a mandatory process that requires care, accuracy and adherence to all the recommendations of experienced gardeners.

Be sure to take into account the varietal characteristics of the grown shrub and its age. They work only with a clean, sharp instrument. For the beauty of the berry, various methods of garter are used.