Blackberries are perennials, meaning their roots survive through the seasons. However, the canes above the soil are biennial — they grow for one year, produce fruit the next, and then die off. Don’t worry though — each year, new canes emerge to take their place!
For a healthy, productive plant and a cleaner look, proper pruning is essential. Regularly trimming away dead canes helps promote new growth and ensures you get the best possible harvest.
Missed Winter Pruning? No Worries!
If you skipped your winter blackberry pruning, don’t stress — you can still do much of the dormant pruning in early spring. Stay tuned for our winter pruning guide coming soon.
Spring Pruning Tips
If you’ve already taken care of winter pruning, there’s not much to prune in the spring, unless you have a trailing variety. In that case, now’s the time to cut the main cane of trailing blackberries back to a height of 3-4 feet (1-1.5 meters).
Checking for Life After Winter
Spring is also the perfect time to check your plants for signs of life after the colder months. Even blackberries pruned to the ground will eventually show new growth. Not sure if your canes survived? Try the scratch test: scrape a few canes with your fingernail. If you see green and moist wood, your plant is still alive! Alternatively, prune back the canes until you find healthy, living wood.
Pruning Tip: For a tidy blackberry patch and a bountiful harvest, don’t forget to remove any dead or weak canes!
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