When is the best time to prune different berry varieties?

Pruning berry bushes at the proper time increases fruit production and improves the health of the plant. Each family of berries has its own specific needs based on its growth pattern and fruiting methods. Through 20 years of growing berries, I've learned what timing is necessary to avoid damaging the buds that are forming. Proper timing can also help limit diseases and facilitate pruning to shape the plant for easier harvesting.

Understand the growth cycles to achieve optimal timing for pruning. Summer-bearing berries fruit on 2nd year wood...so prune them after harvest first. Fall-bearing types bear on new growth, so prune them in late winter. My raspberry patch almost doubled its production when I transitioned from spring to post-harvest.

Be attentive to regional climate differences. Harvest and prune later in the colder regions where late frosts can kill new growth; southern growers prune blueberries in January, while northern growers prune in March. I have two pruning schedules. Pennsylvania and Georgia.

Use the correct cut methods for every cut. Use 45-degree angles above outward-facing buds. For brambles, prune whole canes to ground level; for blueberries, prune just above the branch collars. My plants heal better with sharp bypass pruners.

Get plants back on track with remedial treatment. An over-pruned shrub requires a balanced fertilizer and watering on a schedule. An under-pruned plant only needs summertime thinning. My neglected blackberries were reviving in two seasons, but only after I gradually got to them.

Read the full article: Ultimate Berry Bush Care Guide for Home Gardeners