How to Stake Blackberries
Blackberry plants can remain productive and bear fruit for up to 10 years when they are properly cared for. There are three different types of blackberry plants that included erect, semi-erect and trailing. It's important to stake trailing blackberry plants Semi-erect blackberries also respond better to being trellised; whereas, erect blackberry plants can stand without being staked. You can increase both longevity and yields of blackberry plants by putting them on a trellis when needed.
Use your pruning scissor to cut the top 3 inches of each cane, or branch, off of your blackberry plant in early spring. This will allow berries to grow bigger the following season. You should have about 10 inches of at least six canes available to begin staking.
- Blackberry plants can remain productive and bear fruit for up to 10 years when they are properly cared for.
- You can increase both longevity and yields of blackberry plants by putting them on a trellis when needed.
Remove any canes at ground level that look old, dead or weak with your pruning scissors. Continue to remove dead and weak canes from the entire plant to reduce the possibilities of disease or pests.
Hammer each post a foot away from your blackberry plant on each side. Put the the post 2 feet deep in the soil.
Stretch you 10-gauge wire between the two posts at a height of 3-feet from the ground. Staple the wire loosely to each post at that level. Loose stapling the wires allows room for contraction when temperatures decrease.
- Remove any canes at ground level that look old, dead or weak with your pruning scissors.
Stretch the nine-gauge wire between the posts at a height of 5-feet from the ground, and loosely staple them in place.
Wrap your first cane over the top wire and bring it under the bottom wire carefully. Canes are fragile, so take extra care to not bend them too much. Bring the cane from the bottom wire back over the top wire again.
Continue to twine your canes around the wires in the same manner. Make a fan shape over the wires with the canes as you go. Tie each cane in place with your twine.
- Stretch the nine-gauge wire between the posts at a height of 5-feet from the ground, and loosely staple them in place.
- Make a fan shape over the wires with the canes as you go.
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Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Robin Coe has reported on a variety of subjects for more than 15 years. Coe has worked on environmental health and safety issues in communities across Ohio and Michigan. Coe holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism with a double-major in international politics from Bowling Green State University. She has also received training and experience as a nurse aide.
