Today I spent most of the time in the back by the blackberry bushes. I removed all of the dead wood and pulled a lot of suckers out. There are two big bushes in a really bad place that I cut back and they will be removed. I also found quite a few neglected raspberries. I cut them back and removed all of the dead branches.
Raspberries and trimmed blackberry bushes
As you can see there are two bushes to the left that are in a bad spot. Those will be removed. There are also a couple of bigger suckers that trimed but couldn't get out of the ground yet.
No more jungle!!
They are getting there!! We are supposed to have rain tomorrow. So it looks like I won't be back over there until Saturday.
Looking GOOD! You really did do a TON of work!
ReplyDeleteYou've got your work cutout for sure :)
ReplyDeleteThat was a lot of work! Good job on the blackberries and raspberries. I hope they give you a ton of berries!
ReplyDeleteThe first step is the hardest!
ReplyDeleteIt's looking much better! Too bad you don't know if the raspberries are everbearing or summer bearing, as each takes a different approach when it comes to pruning.
ReplyDeleteLynda, Thanks, I think that I have a TON more to do!!
ReplyDeleteCraig, Yes, I think we do...but, it will be fun
VP, I just did a little research on trimming the blackberries and I have a little more trimming left on the ones I am keeping
Mal, It's quite refreshing to be out there doing all of that work!
Granny, I know that I'm going to have to do a little more trimming on the blackberries. Do you think that I should leave the raspberries as is or trim them some more?
Robin, if they happen to be summer bearing (one crop), then I'd wait another month and then top them back to about 4', or to live wood. They should grow some fruiting laterals. One croppers bear fruit on the previous year's growth. If they are everbearing, they could actually be cut right to the ground and treated like a one-crop fall bearing (my favorite way to treat them). You don't know which they are! If it were me, I'd go for option one, regardless of which variety they are. If you find they are everbearing, in the future, then I'd just cut all the canes to the ground and let them bear just one large crop in the fall.
ReplyDeleteGreat job and great photos. Now I can really see the plot... I was having a hard time visualizing before. I can't wait to see everything planted.
ReplyDeleteYou did a lot of work!
ReplyDeleteI love looking at the progress at your plots. Our soil is still frozen and there is not much to do here.
What a difference-it looks great. And you're sure going to appreciate those delicious berries this summer!
ReplyDeleteGranny, thanks for the raspberry pruning guide that you sent me. I'm sure it will come in handy!
ReplyDeleteLiisa, Now I can see the plot too!! I had no idea what was in the back until I got that jungle back there under control.
ana, Hopefully I can get back there on Saturday. Unless it is too muddy from the rain we are having today. Then I can remove the piles of brush and the rest of the tall weeds then stake out where the beds will be located. I just hate walking on the ground where we are going to plant.
Blackberries can be a pain if they are not kept in check and will pop down roots wherever the 'canes' touch the ground. WE had them coming up all over our plot when it was new to us.
ReplyDeleteGLA, That's what was going on with these. There were canes from one that touched the ground, rooted and continued to grow. It was a real jungle back there. I think that these seeded themselves from another plot behind one of mine. There is a plot that has nothing but these blackberries on half of it. They are trellised and seem to be tended to a bit better. I will have to take a picture of them.
ReplyDeleteWow! What an incredible amount of work. Isn't this a joint project or are you on your own with this plot?
ReplyDeleteMarcia, "The Italian" will be helping out over there. He will build the bed frames, put up the fence & structure, design & set-up the rain barrel system and hopefully get dirty. I'm sure that my son will also be over to help get this going. My in-laws are in their 80's, so they will just be stopping over to hang out and harvest.
ReplyDeleteMarcia, I forgot my "Little Garden Helper"...he will probably be the most help!!
ReplyDeleteJob well done, Robin! But I will say my legs hurt after reading all that. ;)
ReplyDeleteSo how is your back feeling?! You got alot done!
ReplyDeleteDiana, thanks..I'm not feeling any pain yet!!
ReplyDeleteErin, My back is good. Just wait until the digging and unloading of compost starts...then my shoulder and elbow will hurt for sure!!
WOW good on ya! You've done loads. Wanna come do mine too? :D
ReplyDeleteLots of work completed! One bite of the apple at a time will get her eaten! This should be a great growing area for you and I am excited about the progress you have made already.
ReplyDeleteWow, it's amazing how much better it looks already!
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