Among the cultivars of blackberries cultivated for the garden, there are now also upright growing species. However, guiding the tendrils with a trellis is still one of the best solutions for climbing blackberries.
Build a trellis yourself
A trellis for the forming training of blackberries can also be built relatively easily in the garden. It is an ideal solution for controlling climbing blackberry varieties, as their long tendrils mean that they can only be brought into shape with a targeted cut to a very limited extent. For a trellis you need the following things:
- some pegs of metal or wood
- Tension wire for the cross wires
- a pair of wire cutters
- a hammer to hammer in the pegs
- Binding bast or retaining rings
Tension the wire at a distance of about 50 centimeters as transverse lines from peg to peg. Then plant the climbing blackberries at a distance of about two meters close to the trellis in the direction of the sun. Attach the tendrils to the tension wires with a piece of raffia or special rings. Make sure to direct the tendrils in both directions so that there is a pleasantly relaxed shape. It has a positive effect on the earliest possible ripening of the fruit if all areas of the tendrils can be easily reached by sunlight.
Annual maintenance is necessary
Blackberries always bear their fruit on two-year-old shoots that have sprouted from the blackberry roots the previous year. It is therefore necessary to attach new tendrils to the trellis in your garden every year. After harvesting, you should cut off the fruit-bearing tendrils near the ground in the fall. At the same time, at this time you can direct young shoots in the right direction. In spring, you should cut off the tendrils that grow beyond the trellis to encourage the development of flowers and fruit.
tips and tricks
Wild blackberries from the forest or from embankments are not really suitable for use on a trellis. However, you can let them proliferate in an area of your garden. However, you should be aware that once blackberries of a wild variety have settled, they spread very quickly and are difficult to remove completely.