What is the Proper Care of Blackberry Bushes?
Prune the bushes yearly. Cut all but a few stems to enable the bush to grow back stronger the following year. According to the University of Florida Extension, you can propagate the bush by using one of four methods: cutting leafy stems, root cuttings, suckers and tip layering. The Oregon State University Extension service recommends a peat and sand mixture to root blackberry bushes. Both OSU and UFL extensions suggest that a 10-10-20 fertilizer or manure be used to provide proper nutrition and minerals; apply the fertilizers are applied in the early spring with the first growth of the bush. Apply manure in the winter.
