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Pruning Brambles

Berry Bush Pruning

Brambles are treated differently than other fruiting shrubs. All brambles are perennial, with some fruiting on biennial canes (floricanes). Blackberries are treated this way, except for primocane varieties.

Blackberries (Rubus)- Tip, prune, and tie first-year canes late June-August. Tip laterals to 12-15” of second-year canes in early March. Remove canes once done fruiting.

Raspberries (Rubus)- For fall bearing (primocane) cut back to 2” above ground in late fall or late winter.

Multi-Stemmed Shrubs: Use thinning cuts for a less bushy effect. This increases light and air circulation to the interior of plant. In general, remove stems that are more than 4 to 6 years old.  Older stems are less productive, so their removal enables younger stems to take their place. When pruning, cut stems to l-2” above crown of plant.


* Blueberry (Vaccinium)– Thin out canes older fruiting canes 5+ years. 
* Bush Cherries (Prunus)– Thin out crowded stems, 5yr, and older stems can be removed to make room for younger trunks. 
* Currant/Gooseberry (Ribes)– Remove shoots after their 3rd fruiting year. Remove all but 6 new stems. 


* Elderberry (Sambucus)– All American varieties produce on new wood so that they can be cut down to the ground every year for maximum production, or if a taller shrub is needed, they can be left to grow. ‘Marge,’ a European variety produces on 2-year wood. 


* Fig (Ficus)– In spring, after bud break (often late April), remove dead branches. This may mean all the way to the crown. In exposed sites, wrapping or mulching may be needed for winter protection. Remove smaller trunks and excess growth throughout the season, allowing for 10-12 main trunks. 
* Serviceberry (Amelanchier)– Cultivate 5-9 trunks. Remove trunks over 1.5” in diameter to rejuvenate the shrub.