Any gardener knows that shrubs require an annual pruning in the spring. This also applies, including blackberry garden, which is often planted not only as a hedge, but also for obtaining tasty and very useful berries . Of course, an inexperienced horticulturist may have difficulties in how to properly prune blackberries in the spring. We will try to explain.
Why in the care of the blackberry garden needs pruning?
For blackberry spring pruning performs not only a sanitary role, when sick, dry, frozen or damaged branches are removed. Cutting shoots is necessary for the formation of the bush itself, as well as for simulating better fruiting. Carry out pruning early in the spring, before the buds swelling.
How to prune a blackberry garden in spring?
Everyone who has seen a bush of blackberry, will agree that it has rather flexible stems, which without special care grow randomly. That is why, to give a certain shape to the plant, a pruning is so necessary:
- In the first year of growth, the blackberry simply cuts the tip and side branches, leaving a height of about 25-30 cm from the surface of the earth.
- In the second year of growth, new shoots appear near the bush, and the first berries appear on the lateral processes. At this stage, the usual sanitary trimming of the bush is performed in the spring and the kidneys of the side shoots are pricked, cutting off 10-15 cm.
- In the third year of growth in the lateral shoots, the apex should be shortened by 30-50 cm.
- The final formation of the creeping blackberry should be made on the fourth year of plant growth. This procedure can occur by any scheme of cutting blackberries: waves, ropes or a fan. The main rule is the separation of young shoots from fruiting lashes. With fan formation of the bush fruiting branches are directed to the sides - to the right and to the left, and young shoots are left in the middle.
If you prefer the wave formation of the bush, the young shoots should be guided wavy in the upper rows, and the fruiting whips - along the lower rows.
When ropes are formed, young shoots are left in the center, and the fruit-bearing shoots are placed on the wire by groups.
For such a variety of blackberries as Kumanik used a cluster method of formation. Near the bush they establish a two-meter support to which the whips are fastened at a height of 50 cm and 150 cm. In the second year of growth, the tips of the shoot are cut at 15 cm, and the third by 40 cm.
Pruning popular now blackberries without thorns is produced by one of the above methods for creeping varieties.