Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?

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Kevin67

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Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« on: October 20, 2014, 19:34 »
I do quite a bit of foraging - and these past 2 years have been quite good.

I notice that the blackberry bushes which are allowed to grow wild have berries that are suffering as a result. I'm thinking of getting a petrol hedge cutter and cutting the bushes low to encourage new branch growth.

Would such a tactic work to encourage better berries next year (or the following)?
250m2 grow area + 20' x 10' pt - avid fruit grower
Cheap as chips, diy preferred
Will swap root cuttings etc

"There comes a point where Mother nature just says no, without a lot of electricity." Quote Beesrus

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solway cropper

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2014, 23:14 »
Wouldn't you need the permission of the landowner before you start attacking their blackberries?

Apart from that, garden and commercial varieties are the result of years of selective breeding so you probably wouldn't see that much of a difference.

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VegGirl7

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2014, 00:06 »
I'm no expert, but think they produce fruit on previous year's growth/stems, so removing everything will mean no berries for a year...  :unsure: 

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Kevin67

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2014, 05:51 »
Thanks for the replies.

Legal considerations aren't a bother in this instance.  :)

Yes, I think that berries grow on the previous years stems. But there's so much unchecked growth that the rootball is over-crowded and I thought that missing berries on a bush for a year isn't that much of a hardship when there's other bushes to be had. I have access to 6 large bushes and thought of alternating the cutting back so ensure some supply.

So when there's something like 15+ years of growth, surely a little housework would keep the bush happy?

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compostqueen

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2014, 09:03 »
I have lots of bramble in my hedge at home and on my plot and I trim them. They get hugely long stems so I cut them back and I always get fruit

I think if it's very congested at the bottom it will do it good. Get rid of the dead and diseased and crossing over branches, as best you can.  I love the wild berries, I think they're sweeter than the ones out the catalogue. I have one of those too mind you and I keep that in bounds and supported. I find the wild ones don't need support as they are not so thuggish and heavy. 

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sonnycbr

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2014, 18:44 »
I cut my overgrown blackberry bushes back by about half last year and this years crop has been the best ever. I think this summer has been great for berries but I definitely think a decent pruning helps.

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Kevin67

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2014, 19:00 »
CompostQueen and Sonny - thanks. I'm going to perform a few trimmings!

Do you think cuttings from the wild bushes into a managed growspace might be the best of both worlds?

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sonnycbr

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2014, 17:45 »
CompostQueen and Sonny - thanks. I'm going to perform a few trimmings!

Do you think cuttings from the wild bushes into a managed growspace might be the best of both worlds?

 I also grow the variety "Black Butte" in my house garden. I started off with 3 plants and they now cover a 30ft fence. They are much earlier than wild varieties and finish just as the wild ones start to ripen, giving me a really long cropping season. They are also huge and very tasty, making them my grandchildrens favourite.



edit to clarify quote
« Last Edit: October 22, 2014, 18:24 by mumofstig »

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Kevin67

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2014, 18:43 »
You have no idea how grateful I am for that snippet. I'll be sure to get some.

A HUGE thank you!

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compostqueen

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2014, 21:01 »
I had brambles all over my long neglected plot so i grubbed some out and planted them in the hedge round my plot . They seem well happy in there    I'm so glad did :) :tongue2:

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Kevin67

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2014, 20:01 »
My new blackberry babies....

These are going to be part of a regenerative 20+ year project.

I use blackberries all the time and I recognise I'm getting older - so I'm planting great varieties in my large-ish garden so I have everything near - especially when my health is not so good.

*Thank you*
rsz_dscf0015.jpg

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Baldy

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2014, 20:13 »
Looks good - how about taking some cuttings in a year or two and sticking them in a local hedge - guerilla gardening..
Pip pip,
Balders

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Kevin67

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #12 on: October 25, 2014, 20:43 »
Accrington Stanley!


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sonnycbr

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #13 on: October 28, 2014, 11:55 »
The cuttings look totally at home Kevin, well done mate, I hope they all take for you.

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Kevin67

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Re: Cutting down wild blackberry bushes...would it help?
« Reply #14 on: October 28, 2014, 11:59 »
Thank you, sonnycbr, not only that but think of all the cuttings to come from them in due course!

May I ask, do you find it useful to replace the whole bush after so many years?

(I will be pruning the bushes each dormancy to clear the rootball head for more canes...)



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