Common Blackberry

Common Blackberry plants prefer well-drained soils and should be watered deeply once per week. In hot summer months, they may require extra watering, such as twice a week, particularly if the soil shows signs of drying out. In the winter, water the Common Blackberry every 2 to 3 weeks, just enough to keep the roots from drying out. Avoid overwatering, as soggy roots can lead to root rot.

Common blackberries need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day to grow and produce an abundant crop of succulent berries. Plant them in an area that receives full sun most of the day, with a break of partial shade midday if possible. Depending on the hours of sunlight available for your area, this could mean that morning sun is more preferable in certain regions. Plants can be exposed to early morning direct sun, followed by light shade or filtered sunlight during the hottest part of the day (usually between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.). During the late afternoon hours, the plants should receive more direct sunlight for optimal growth and berry production.

When pruning a Common Blackberry plant (Rubus allegheniensis), the best time to do so is in late winter or early spring, before its leaves and flowers have sprouted. This will allow enough time for new growth during the spring and summer months. The amount of pruning required depends on the age of the bush. If the bush is young (2-4 years old) then lightly prune the tops of the branches to encourage branch growth. If the bush is over 4 years old then remove the oldest stems and any dead or weak ones. You should also thin out any congested areas around the bush to improve air and sunlight circulation. Prune back the stems to the base of the bush, to make sure new growth is encouraged, and remove any sucker shoots or lateral branches which may be growing off the bush. Finally, after pruning the bush, it is important to mulch and water it to ensure the new shoots and growth are encouraged.