This simple trellis system looks clean, invisible and sleek. This would look nice in a urban front yard with just a couple of plants on it. Thanks for the great idea!
I just the other day purchased 4 7' T-posts for about $4.57 each the other day. A roll of 17-gauge costs about a dollar more. So $19 for the four posts, and about $20 for the wire. Double-stringing a 100-ft run (say 210' per row for wraps), you'll get 6 rows from that spool, with about 25' of wire left over. So, you're looking at an average of $3.5 in wire per row, or about $22.50 total for each row. Should be in the neighborhood of $135 to install 6 rows. It'd be a few dollars less if you used shorter posts.
I use a generic glyphosphate at about 1/2 strength. It doesn't seem to bother the berry canes. I only fertilized once this year with 13-13-13. Then I sprayed once with compost tea. When I planted them, I mulched with about 6-8" of wood chips.
You'll notice that I have pruned almost all the lower laterals from the main canes up to a foot or two. Hopefully next year, I can cut the canes at the bottom and just pull them out from the top, and the wire won't get in the way. However... I may have to cut them off at the bottom, and again in the middle and pull the dead ones out from 2 directions... won't know till I try. It should be much better than this year. All the old canes had fallen and tangled everywhere... it was a pain...
Thank you for all your knowledge and info. I live in PA Zone 6 and planted these in the spring. Had a weird year weather wise so hoping my crop is better next year and needed trellis info now that they are starting to grow. Subscribed after watching a few of your videos and all your help! Love your point about not bothering with 4x4 posts etc and being overkill.
I just planted a couple blackberry plants at my Daughter’s and thought I’d support them with a tomato cage. Thank You for your tips. I sure enjoy your sense of humor! I do live in an apartment!
I use a generic glyphosphate at about 1/2 strength. It doesn't seem to bother the berry canes. The grass between the rows is Coastal Bermuda... VERY aggressive... it would take over the berries if I let it. It can get several feet tall.
We saw one garter snake this year. I had a family of rabbits in the berry patch, and yes... I saw some mice. Now, having said that... look at the way they are cleared out now. This spring it was a mess and had a lot of brambles low to the ground that would hide the above mentioned animals. I don't think I'll have a problem next year, because since I cleaned out all the dead brambles, I haven't seen any sign of little creatures :)
I was looking for something inexpensive to trellis my black raspberries, and I think this will work. All the other plans I could come across call for lag bolts and cement and notching posts...way more work (and expense) than I wanted to invest in the wild black raspberries that the birds have planted in my yard (but I want to keep and harvest). Thanks for posting this video--I can't wait to set up this trellis system!
Tried this. It was ok. This year I got the Dr. Arlie Powell method going. The posts have not 2 wires but three and I am training the plants like wine grapes. It is only the second year for these plants so I expect them to do better with the trellis next year. But this years growth is trellising pretty nicely. I should add I only have about 34 plants, not nearly as many as you. So I don't mind spending a few hours every two weeks training them. If I had as many as you I would go to town with your method, makes more sense with so many plants.
You're welcome... BUT... my newest one is much better and still inexpensive: My upgraded Trellis: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html Works for containers or soil planted berries. Enjoy! 😎
Thank you very much... BUT... I've designed a MUCH better trellis. It can be used when growing in containers or in the ground. It's just as easy to make, but it holds them a LOT better Check it out: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html
I am so grateful for this post! I have friends who have done the more expensive route and though it really looks nice, I don't have the time or money to replicate. This was exactly what I was looking for! Blessings!
I just trellised my brambles this way and it already looks great. The "wire stays" are so easy and make all the difference. Thanks so much for sharing this. Also the "you must be a city dweller" part really cracked me up!
I'm raising blackberries in containers now: th-cam.com/play/PLutBw50GI1zw9M4UxWAN3n9yeJ_WYS8TD.html Back then, I used a 1/2 strength of a generic glyphosate to keep the grass at bay. The chips breaking down to compost just DRAWS the grass to the rows. Gotta do something...
I would plant NOW... but don't plant too much 'cause you're probably too late. If you are DEEP S.TX you may be OK. You have a later frost than I do. Find the earliest (shortest grow days) corn variety you can... like a 70 day or so... not a 90 day... you might can squeeze it in. I planted my corn in late July. It is about 3' high now, so I think I will be OK. I'll try to do a vid on it this week.
I try to use herbicides at about 1/2 strength. It does not seem to hurt the blackberries. I have LOTS of videos on pruning... scroll through my vids to get to them. Thanks for the comment
Agreed. My single row of blackberries is a mess. My father in law gave me some runners off his patch, and they are the tangliest (word?) plants I have! My other plants stand nice and tall like yours, but these from him just lay all over the ground and make a big mess. A trellis like yours here is certainly a cheap enough option I should at least attempt it! Thanks for sharing!
Blackberries like full sun. If they get mostly sun, you may still be OK. Having them up against a wall means you can only pick from one side, If that is the case, I would recommend "Thornless"... You will be reaching through the hedge to get to the ones in the back, and that could be painful with a thorned variety.
I grew toothless blackberries for several years on the t post system, but I used 3 wires instead of double wires, because of not all bushes got to be the same height. And I had chickens in with the blackberries, no problem with them. The problem I had most was new canes spreading out underground and being to close to a 6 ft fence that was on one side. Otherwise I had the best crops and have away lot of berries. Now I moved to the city and needed a more controlled method on berries and this idea seem to fit the bill! Thanks!
Glad it helped, but I came up with a better trellis. Take a look at this one: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html I use it on my container blackberries, but it will work on berries planted in the ground. Much better design.
Man have you EVER been working those beauties! It looks fantastic! The mulch is wonderful and it's so even!!! This information is just the best, and I need it too. Blessings to you and yours.
I put the trellis up THIS year AFTER I pulled out the dead canes. It was, and IS a concern of mine, as to whether the trellis will make it more difficult. I think since I didn't put in a LOWER wire... (just the one wire at about 3-4 feet)... that it shouldn't be a hindrance... but I really won't know till next year. That is a GREAT question, and I should have covered it in the video...
Well... I don't... but I seem to have plenty for all of us. Now, having said that, I HAVE used CD/DVD's on a string to wave in the wind and reflect the sunlight. I did this on a row of grapes and a couple of rows of tomatoes. It DID seem to help. If I see a bigger problem on the berries, I'll do that there also... thanks for the comment
Yep... as long as the new growth come up fairly close to the "center line" of the row, they should "guide" pretty easy.... but I'll have to check them every day or two...
Try using fence ties for chain link fencing. They are aluminum and come in 11 and 9 gauge. They are shorter, but can be joined together with the hooks they have or by linesmen splice.
I like the simplicity of what you've done with the berries. Your plants look fantastic also. I guess you will need to "guide" the primocanes between the wires next year as they grow?
Not sure if this is the same thing but tractorsupply (online store with physical stores all over the South) has 1/2 mile 17 gauge galvanized fence wine for $28.99 which is $45 cheaper than the amazon wire. T-posts at the same store cost from $2.99 to $5.99 each and the amazon price is $10.6 each Bonus if you live near a tractorsupply store you can get these without paying any shipping which saves even more Great video thanks
Thank you so much. For the last six months I've been trying to figure out why to do with my blackberry brambles. As soon as the ground thaws, I am going try my hand at your trellis. Will let you know how it turns out.
Will this work for just two plants in each row, or will the parallel wires be too tight? I have just two plants in each row in a little spot in our backyard.
Hmmmm... With just 2 plants, you might want to just make a rectangle with T-Posts around the periphery of your plants. Then run a wire around them at about 3 feet (maybe also one at around 2 feet) That should hold them all inside the wire. Remember, the plants will send up shoots (and maybe where you don't want them) so form the triangle a little wider than the existing plants. Hope that helps, and hope I made sense :) alan
How does the wire hold up as you prune out the dead canes? Does it slow you down any? Or does it get stretched/damaged when you are hauling out dead canes? Or do you just cut around it and take your time?
Thank you for your prompt response /advice. I look fwd to growing & hopefully with success. ..Enjoying this Wonderful fruit. I know my grandkids w/b ever Thankful.
This and your pruning video have been such a big help to us with our thornless blackberries. One question: do you tie the canes to the wire supports or do they rest against (between) the wire supports? Thanks so much!
Yes, I DO tie them: I have several videos on the process. Here's one of them: th-cam.com/video/HsOy7TKvMf0/w-d-xo.html Here's the tool: amzn.to/3ZlEfwb
I just wanted to share that Round-up is a derivative of Agent Orange. It also stays active in the ground around 75 years. The plants will uptake this. Lots of other choices if you need to such as common vinegar etc. I just wanted to offer this so that you can make the choice.
Very good ideas. This can be adaptable to indeterminate tomatoes. I've used a similar system with twine ( either plastic or natural cord) instead of tiny tomato cages. GREAT idea to use a piece of metal to stiffen the wire or cord at regular intervals along the length. Thanks for the video and wonderful idea!
At commercial blueberry farm west of Branson mo they had attached about ft length of rebar horizontal across top section of t-post & ran lengths of wire like you have done
The berry farm near me has a 4" by 4' post near each end of the row. they have a heavy wire coming from a stake at the end of the row angled up and over a groove cut in the top of the 4" post. this wire is permanent and runs through prop posts of pvc pipe every 30'. they have a ratchet windlass to take up the slack in the wire at each end and they use a black UV resistant cord on each side to hold the canes to the central post line. It looks very easy for them to adjust the ropes to hold new canes during maintenance, but I wonder if it's cost is cheaper in the long run.
My rows are only 100' long. This is working very well for me.Now... if my rows were 1000' long... sure, I'd have to go with something like you mentioned. I'm sure that berry farm near you has some massive rows... But what you describe is pretty expensive compared to what I did. That sounds almost like a grape trellis... very strong.Really, most people that I've seen that have BIG berry operations don't even trellis at all. I tried that for a year or 2, but I think I'm gonna like the trellis. This will be the first year to pick with the trellis up. I put it up last year after the season was over.
I will be planting a bunch or berry bushes in the next year. Your vids are very helpful. I was told that berry bushes attract mice. Snakes are attracted to mice. I know i have snakes on my place i see tracks every now and then. Have you ever run in to an issue with snakes getting in your bushes? thanks a bunch.
I like it. Black berries here are pretty wild but most of them have died back. Would like to plant the thorn-less. Do you prune yours up from the base. I have never seen them so clean underneath. Know that black berries produce on 3 & fourth year canes. How do you decide which ones to prune?
Blackberries produce on 2nd year canes. Then, the canes die... so it's pretty easy to tell which ones to cut out... but it IS a lot of work (but worth it). I've done several videos on pruning blackberries... check them out :)
What varieties are you trellising and what varieties are you pruning no higher than 3 to 4 feet, like in your other video? It seems like the Trellest are the thornless Flora canes in the 3 to 4 feet without trellises are the prima-canes. Great videos I enjoy watching them have learned a lot!
Awesome idea! Super cheap and very durable! When you planted the raspberries...how much space did you leave between them? I'm trying to grow my own trellis full of them.
Glad it was helpful! Last year I changed the trellis design, and really like the new one better. Here it is: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html These blackberries are in containers, but the new trellis would work with in-ground blackberries too. I think it's better than the first one I did.
this has to be the best way to trellis long rows. Thanks so much for sharing. Just a small question. in some other videos u say that your blackberry rows are about 2 feet in width at the base I believe. However, your rows in this video look perfectly in line, no width at all and even spacing all the way down. Is it better to prune them this way? Or does it not matter too much
They are planted in a straight row. One plant inline with another. The reason I say they are about 2' wide, is that over the years, the new berry shoots have come up and spread the rows out a little. They are not inline with one another now. With berries, all the plants die after they produce. They send up new shoots to reproduce themselves... but they are very seldom in the straight line that the 'mother plants' were planted.
I am contemplating using recycled fishing line that has been braided. I can get the stuff of free. Lots of work but I don't have a lot of land to worry with. Still in the planning stage.
Great video. I assume you use a herbicide to control weeds in your rows. Do you have any concern of it harming your plants? It would be great to see information on pruning.
I used them when I was laying the wire for my barn, but hadn't thought about them for this application. If they are long enough, they might work... thanks for the comment
I like this, will try this at home with mine. Also, not to change the subject, but did you spray round-up around base with protecting the bramble canes? I need to keep weeds down, did not know if placing grass clippings or other mulch is a good idea?
brafberi 52982 I do spray with a generic roundup at about 1/2 strength to keep the grass down. Grass will be drawn to the composting mulch, and needs to be taken care of... I use wood chips to mulch my berries, but you can use hay or leaves, etc...
I like your videos very much but am wondering what you use to spray the weeds around the base of your blackberry and raspberry plants that you have on the T post system. I am guessing you use Roundup but am curious because I would think that it might harm the plant.
I use about a 1/2 strength generic roundup... when I absolutely HAVE to.It doesn't seem to hurt the berries at all... but remember, I'm spraying at the base of the canes not the leaves.
Thanks so much for informative videos. I am about to plant one blackberry bush. I have a small area ,which has grass/weeds...this is the only space available. So, after removing the grass, would it be ok to lay down cardboard or landscaping fabric to prevent the grass/weeds fr growing? I'm concerned bec I heard the bush will send off runners....& I don't want to impede that process. Any help/suggestions w/b greatly appreciated. Thank you.
The cardboard MIGHT be deteriorated by the time (next year) the runners will try to come up, so it might be ok. But, I think I'd just use heavy mulch, hay, leaves, wood chips.
Got lots of questions but I’ll start with just one: I notice your rows are apparently sprayed to keep grass/weeds away?? What product do you use? Can roundup be used with no damage to berry plant? Obviously sprayed with care and minimal wind?
why use roundup? how about using tree paint around base of plant to prevent suckers from coming up? I am a huge fan of your videos. what types blackberries are you growing?
HI thanks for the video, can you tell me what you sprayed under your raspberry shrubs to keep the weeds at bay? I see the weeds and grass is dead but it did not kill your raspberries.
At the time, I was using a 1/2 strength mix of glyphosate. Now, I'm planting blackberries in containers, so I don't have to spray herbicides: th-cam.com/play/PLutBw50GI1zw9M4UxWAN3n9yeJ_WYS8TD.html
I bought two plants, quachita and triple crown. Both plants have short trunks with vines growing in 3 different directions. I have them in containers and assume I need a circular type trellis system?
Love the video! Great information! Where did you get your blackberry plants? Did you order all at one time? They are really nice ! Thanks again! A Farmer/ School bus driver Marlene Willoughby from SC
In this field, I got most of them from Nourse Farms online. Since then, I've formed a partnership with Bob Wells Nursery: bobwellsnursery.com/ If you use BWN, use the Discount Code "TP2" and you'll get 10% off.
Not too sure about how you sprayed to keep the weeds down. I am modeling my blackberries after your system. I saw you sprayed herbicide 1/2 strength. What herbicide / roundup ? Was it sprayed in winter or summer ? Does it matter I see the lower two feet of leaves have been stripped. Is that to stop the herbicide from being adsorbed into the plant by the foliage? If anyone can reply it would be great. I have no experience with spraying and weeds are talking over my blackberries. Will roundup kill just the grass and not the blackberries?
I found that roundup won't kill a mature blackberry plant. But, years of spraying it might have contributed to the patch dying after about 8 years.... that and a bad gopher infestation. I am doing blackberries in containers this year and they are looking fantastic: th-cam.com/play/PLutBw50GI1zw9M4UxWAN3n9yeJ_WYS8TD.html
I am starting my own homestead berry patch this spring and I didn’t want to go through the work of building a fancy trellis. This is exactly what I was thinking! Thanks!!! I will likely rotate my post 180 degrees though as they will be stiffer to resist bending. Or at least that’s what my enginerd brain tells me. Have you found a reason to turn them the way you do or was that simply the default orientation?
Thank you for all of your video and that time invested in making them!! Just one question, what did you spray to kill the grass under your blackberry trellises? I am tired of cutting grass around mine.
What do u spray so no weeds grow around your berries and how do keep them very clean looking. And do u have both raspberries and blackberries planted .bc I want to do both raspberries and blackberries but some one told be the blackberries won't produce
Jenny Hanks I use a 1/2 strength solution of a generic roundup on the grass. I don't have any raspberries, but I understand they are grown the same way...
Great video - would 4 foot T-posts be too short to use? I have both sizes, but the 4 foot posts might be easier for me to install. Let me know. Thanks. Marilyn
msanvideos If you pound the 4' ones in the ground 2'... you'll only have about 2' above ground. That may be too short... depending on how tall you want your berry plants. You could prune them shorter than I do... but would be your choice.
TexasPrepper2 Thanks, Tex. I actually pounded in the 6 foot T-posts today - I will have a friend come by and drive them down a little further. I bought the galvanized wire and will put that up tomorrow. So far, I only have 3 raspberry plants. I appreciate your advice.
I'm trying to start my own berry farm in Arkansas. Did u have any problems when u put the wood chips on ur berries with fungus or mold?. I'm thinking about putting wood chips or fresh grass cuttings on mine to help with weeds. Any advice would greatly be appreciated sir thank you.
I used wood chips and hay... no problems. Fresh grass clippings get pretty hot when they are composting, so not sure about using them. Hay, leaves or wood chips is what I've used.
Too funny. I just purchased and installed T-post in my yard to hang my thornless Blackberry plants. I was worried about the posts pulling together so I did it a bot differently but it was quite inexpensive compared to other methods and way easier than diggin post holes for wood. I'm going to post a video of what I did later but In the meantime I'm directing my FB peeps to this one. Good stuff.
Just saw your video while i am searching what to pesticide from insects eating the fruits. My sister was mistakenly to plant my blackberry in flower bed, now it grow crazy, it shoots couple sprouts couple inches apart, now i have 3 blackberry plants. I dont have a lot of time taking care all the plants, the blackberry has 3 or 4 big stalks in 1 plant big and tall because i kept cutting them spreading everywhere to my yard. Can you give me an advice ?
Blackberries spread... that's what they do. If you don't want them in your yard, you may have to kill them. You might consider growing them in pots. I've never done it, but several people have told me they do well in pots.
I have a roll of 14 guage galvanized utility wire, would that work, or does it have to be 17 gauge electric fence wire to stretch and wind around the post easily?
How are you taking care of the grass I see that is dead under all of your blackberry plants? Did you hit it with some roundup without killing the blackberries or did you flame weed it or something else?
A generic glyphosate (roundup) at about 1/2 strength. The G doesn't seem to hurt adult plants sprayed at their base... but do a test first on your berries to make sure.
How did this end up working? And we're considering putting a couple grape and raspberry plants each on one line. How far apart would you recommend the plants? Would you recommend staggering the kinds of plants or keeping like kinds together?
This has worked great for me... for blackberries... but would be too flimsy for grapes. They would just be too heavy. They T-Posts would not be heavy duty enough to hold them up (my opinion).I plant blackberries about 3'-4' apart and grapes between 5'-7' apart.I always keep like kinds together, if for no other reason than telling them apart when it comes time to propagate them.
I have a very thick blackberry patch, about 60 feet long and 30' wide, more or less. They have been unattended/cultivated for many years. Like raspberries, can I burn the patch and, if so, when is the time to burn?
I have never burned a patch off.If you are wanting to kill them, I don't think burning will do that. In fact, it will probably spur them on to grow more. Goats/sheep are a great way to get rid of them.If they are native berries, not cultivated ones, I would try to get rid of them. They won't produce enough to worry with. If they are cultivated ones, you can start trying to gain back control... but it will take a while... good luck
No, not kill them...I want to get them down to get the canes ready for new growth. The canes are so think that they need MAJOR thinning. I'm thinking that I can manage the patches that I have by starting over and thinning what comes up this spring.
This is excellent- agree with you - prefer your method to the wood post. I was too afraid to put my raspberry plants in the ground here in Ga. We consider blackberry brambles weeds here. They are EVERYWHERE- So I planted them in large pots. I had the best harvest until the first frost mid December. Now - Keeping them in the pots, I want to make your trellis to train them to the entrance to my small potager. So grateful for your video !
jeanne miller I think I explain it in a video, better than I can explain in a comment. I have a full Playlist on raising blackberries. Here's the video on the trellis: th-cam.com/video/DZwjXRFgR5g/w-d-xo.html
This simple trellis system looks clean, invisible and sleek. This would look nice in a urban front yard with just a couple of plants on it. Thanks for the great idea!
I just the other day purchased 4 7' T-posts for about $4.57 each the other day. A roll of 17-gauge costs about a dollar more. So $19 for the four posts, and about $20 for the wire. Double-stringing a 100-ft run (say 210' per row for wraps), you'll get 6 rows from that spool, with about 25' of wire left over. So, you're looking at an average of $3.5 in wire per row, or about $22.50 total for each row. Should be in the neighborhood of $135 to install 6 rows. It'd be a few dollars less if you used shorter posts.
Great video, very helpful. We will be adding raspberries to our garden and do not want a complicated and expensive trellis. Thank you!
I use a generic glyphosphate at about 1/2 strength. It doesn't seem to bother the berry canes.
I only fertilized once this year with 13-13-13. Then I sprayed once with compost tea. When I planted them, I mulched with about 6-8" of wood chips.
You'll notice that I have pruned almost all the lower laterals from the main canes up to a foot or two. Hopefully next year, I can cut the canes at the bottom and just pull them out from the top, and the wire won't get in the way.
However... I may have to cut them off at the bottom, and again in the middle and pull the dead ones out from 2 directions... won't know till I try.
It should be much better than this year. All the old canes had fallen and tangled everywhere... it was a pain...
Thank you for all your knowledge and info. I live in PA Zone 6 and planted these in the spring. Had a weird year weather wise so hoping my crop is better next year and needed trellis info now that they are starting to grow. Subscribed after watching a few of your videos and all your help! Love your point about not bothering with 4x4 posts etc and being overkill.
Thanks for Subbing...So nice of you
This trellis was good, but my new one is better: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html
I just planted a couple blackberry plants at my Daughter’s and thought I’d support them with a tomato cage. Thank You for your tips. I sure enjoy your sense of humor! I do live in an apartment!
So nice of you
I use a generic glyphosphate at about 1/2 strength. It doesn't seem to bother the berry canes.
The grass between the rows is Coastal Bermuda... VERY aggressive... it would take over the berries if I let it. It can get several feet tall.
We saw one garter snake this year.
I had a family of rabbits in the berry patch, and yes... I saw some mice.
Now, having said that... look at the way they are cleared out now. This spring it was a mess and had a lot of brambles low to the ground that would hide the above mentioned animals. I don't think I'll have a problem next year, because since I cleaned out all the dead brambles, I haven't seen any sign of little creatures :)
I was looking for something inexpensive to trellis my black raspberries, and I think this will work. All the other plans I could come across call for lag bolts and cement and notching posts...way more work (and expense) than I wanted to invest in the wild black raspberries that the birds have planted in my yard (but I want to keep and harvest). Thanks for posting this video--I can't wait to set up this trellis system!
+Mary Hall
It has worked fine for several years here... so... give it a shot.
Glad I could help !
Tried this. It was ok. This year I got the Dr. Arlie Powell method going. The posts have not 2 wires but three and I am training the plants like wine grapes. It is only the second year for these plants so I expect them to do better with the trellis next year. But this years growth is trellising pretty nicely.
I should add I only have about 34 plants, not nearly as many as you. So I don't mind spending a few hours every two weeks training them. If I had as many as you I would go to town with your method, makes more sense with so many plants.
WOW! thank you so much! I was about to spend a lot of money 💵 building some trellis, and this is a much better and easier option! Thank you!
You're welcome... BUT... my newest one is much better and still inexpensive:
My upgraded Trellis: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html
Works for containers or soil planted berries.
Enjoy! 😎
Your trellis system is great. I like the trellis stays very much. Thank you very much for sharing.
Thank you very much... BUT...
I've designed a MUCH better trellis.
It can be used when growing in containers or in the ground.
It's just as easy to make, but it holds them a LOT better
Check it out: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html
I am so grateful for this post! I have friends who have done the more expensive route and though it really looks nice, I don't have the time or money to replicate. This was exactly what I was looking for! Blessings!
I'll be doing an update soon... look for it !
Genius! I like the cost factor. It’s doable! Thank you!🌿
Fantastic video! I love to learn this stuff as I have my own and want to learn! Thanks
I just trellised my brambles this way and it already looks great. The "wire stays" are so easy and make all the difference. Thanks so much for sharing this. Also the "you must be a city dweller" part really cracked me up!
Glad I could help!
👍🏼
Great video. I like your mulch and row prep. How do you keep the weeds down? Thanks
I'm raising blackberries in containers now: th-cam.com/play/PLutBw50GI1zw9M4UxWAN3n9yeJ_WYS8TD.html
Back then, I used a 1/2 strength of a generic glyphosate to keep the grass at bay.
The chips breaking down to compost just DRAWS the grass to the rows.
Gotta do something...
I would plant NOW... but don't plant too much 'cause you're probably too late. If you are DEEP S.TX you may be OK. You have a later frost than I do.
Find the earliest (shortest grow days) corn variety you can... like a 70 day or so... not a 90 day... you might can squeeze it in.
I planted my corn in late July. It is about 3' high now, so I think I will be OK. I'll try to do a vid on it this week.
I try to use herbicides at about 1/2 strength. It does not seem to hurt the blackberries.
I have LOTS of videos on pruning... scroll through my vids to get to them.
Thanks for the comment
Agreed. My single row of blackberries is a mess. My father in law gave me some runners off his patch, and they are the tangliest (word?) plants I have! My other plants stand nice and tall like yours, but these from him just lay all over the ground and make a big mess. A trellis like yours here is certainly a cheap enough option I should at least attempt it! Thanks for sharing!
I am also trying this with thornless,and I think after 2 yrs I am fixin to have some.really enjoy listening to your youtube....Lillian,Texas
What an awesome blackberry patch. Every patch I have seen looks more like a jungle. Great job!
Blackberries like full sun. If they get mostly sun, you may still be OK.
Having them up against a wall means you can only pick from one side, If that is the case, I would recommend "Thornless"... You will be reaching through the hedge to get to the ones in the back, and that could be painful with a thorned variety.
I grew toothless blackberries for several years on the t post system, but I used 3 wires instead of double wires, because of not all bushes got to be the same height. And I had chickens in with the blackberries, no problem with them. The problem I had most was new canes spreading out underground and being to close to a 6 ft fence that was on one side. Otherwise I had the best crops and have away lot of berries. Now I moved to the city and needed a more controlled method on berries and this idea seem to fit the bill! Thanks!
Glad to help, thanks for the comment!
alan
Here's the LINK to the Audew Jump Starter: amzn.to/2UaKPVX
thank you very much. no digging a hole for a4 inch timber!!!!
Glad it helped, but I came up with a better trellis.
Take a look at this one: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html
I use it on my container blackberries, but it will work on berries planted in the ground.
Much better design.
Man have you EVER been working those beauties! It looks fantastic! The mulch is wonderful and it's so even!!! This information is just the best, and I need it too.
Blessings to you and yours.
I put the trellis up THIS year AFTER I pulled out the dead canes. It was, and IS a concern of mine, as to whether the trellis will make it more difficult.
I think since I didn't put in a LOWER wire... (just the one wire at about 3-4 feet)... that it shouldn't be a hindrance... but I really won't know till next year.
That is a GREAT question, and I should have covered it in the video...
Well... I don't... but I seem to have plenty for all of us.
Now, having said that, I HAVE used CD/DVD's on a string to wave in the wind and reflect the sunlight. I did this on a row of grapes and a couple of rows of tomatoes. It DID seem to help.
If I see a bigger problem on the berries, I'll do that there also...
thanks for the comment
Yep... as long as the new growth come up fairly close to the "center line" of the row, they should "guide" pretty easy.... but I'll have to check them every day or two...
Try using fence ties for chain link fencing. They are aluminum and come in 11 and 9 gauge. They are shorter, but can be joined together with the hooks they have or by linesmen splice.
Lowes, Home Depot or Menards or any place that sells chain fence materials. come in bags of 100 ties
a good and practical approach. I never knew they got that high. cant say as I have ever seen them that high.
Thank you for showing this piece in such great detail. I love t-post and watching this makes me happy. :)
I like the simplicity of what you've done with the berries. Your plants look fantastic also. I guess you will need to "guide" the primocanes between the wires next year as they grow?
Thank you! I love your video! I am going to go out and start my raspberry patch thanks to what I learn from your garden! Have a lovely day!
Not sure if this is the same thing but tractorsupply (online store with physical stores all over the South) has 1/2 mile 17 gauge galvanized fence wine for $28.99 which is $45 cheaper than the amazon wire.
T-posts at the same store cost from $2.99 to $5.99 each and the amazon price is $10.6 each
Bonus if you live near a tractorsupply store you can get these without paying any shipping which saves even more
Great video thanks
Thank you so much. For the last six months I've been trying to figure out why to do with my blackberry brambles. As soon as the ground thaws, I am going try my hand at your trellis. Will let you know how it turns out.
Let me know... :)
Will this work for just two plants in each row, or will the parallel wires be too tight? I have just two plants in each row in a little spot in our backyard.
Hmmmm...
With just 2 plants, you might want to just make a rectangle with T-Posts around the periphery of your plants.
Then run a wire around them at about 3 feet (maybe also one at around 2 feet)
That should hold them all inside the wire.
Remember, the plants will send up shoots (and maybe where you don't want them) so form the triangle a little wider than the existing plants.
Hope that helps, and hope I made sense :)
alan
How does the wire hold up as you prune out the dead canes? Does it slow you down any? Or does it get stretched/damaged when you are hauling out dead canes? Or do you just cut around it and take your time?
Thank you for your prompt response /advice. I look fwd to growing & hopefully with success. ..Enjoying this Wonderful fruit. I know my grandkids w/b ever Thankful.
This and your pruning video have been such a big help to us with our thornless blackberries. One question: do you tie the canes to the wire supports or do they rest against (between) the wire supports? Thanks so much!
Yes, I DO tie them:
I have several videos on the process.
Here's one of them: th-cam.com/video/HsOy7TKvMf0/w-d-xo.html
Here's the tool: amzn.to/3ZlEfwb
I don't have that kind of space for the berries, but what a great system. Easy for a small home berry row.
Thanks. Bob!
Thanks TP2, I truly appreciate you sharing your ideas. I just ordered some blackberry plants and will be using your trellis design. Thank You, Emil
I just wanted to share that Round-up is a derivative of Agent Orange. It also stays active in the ground around 75 years. The plants will uptake this. Lots of other choices if you need to such as common vinegar etc. I just wanted to offer this so that you can make the choice.
Kathy Reese Exactly!! All credibility lost after demonstrating such ignorance
@Zoe’s Lovely
Credibility on how to bend wire and support plants in an inexpensive manner? Yes, this must be fake news. Thank you for saving me.
Thank you. I was looking for some ideas and this was a great help...plus my husband is from Texas and I think he will enjoy watching this! :-)
Very good ideas. This can be adaptable to indeterminate tomatoes. I've used a similar system with twine ( either plastic or natural cord) instead of tiny tomato cages. GREAT idea to use a piece of metal to stiffen the wire or cord at regular intervals along the length. Thanks for the video and wonderful idea!
great idea , i will def try this , what do you use to kill the weeds & grass on your rows ?
good video , thanks
At commercial blueberry farm west of Branson mo they had attached about ft length of rebar horizontal across top section of t-post & ran lengths of wire like you have done
The berry farm near me has a 4" by 4' post near each end of the row. they have a heavy wire coming from a stake at the end of the row angled up and over a groove cut in the top of the 4" post. this wire is permanent and runs through prop posts of pvc pipe every 30'. they have a ratchet windlass to take up the slack in the wire at each end and they use a black UV resistant cord on each side to hold the canes to the central post line. It looks very easy for them to adjust the ropes to hold new canes during maintenance, but I wonder if it's cost is cheaper in the long run.
My rows are only 100' long. This is working very well for me.Now... if my rows were 1000' long... sure, I'd have to go with something like you mentioned. I'm sure that berry farm near you has some massive rows... But what you describe is pretty expensive compared to what I did. That sounds almost like a grape trellis... very strong.Really, most people that I've seen that have BIG berry operations don't even trellis at all. I tried that for a year or 2, but I think I'm gonna like the trellis. This will be the first year to pick with the trellis up. I put it up last year after the season was over.
TexasPrepper2 ...
..
I will be planting a bunch or berry bushes in the next year. Your vids are very helpful. I was told that berry bushes attract mice. Snakes are attracted to mice. I know i have snakes on my place i see tracks every now and then. Have you ever run in to an issue with snakes getting in your bushes? thanks a bunch.
I like it. Black berries here are pretty wild but most of them have died back. Would like to plant the thorn-less. Do you prune yours up from the base. I have never seen them so clean underneath. Know that black berries produce on 3 & fourth year canes. How do you decide which ones to prune?
Blackberries produce on 2nd year canes. Then, the canes die... so it's pretty easy to tell which ones to cut out... but it IS a lot of work (but worth it). I've done several videos on pruning blackberries... check them out :)
Thank you! Tposts are $ 3 - $5 at home depot. Love the "Make you some up" comment. God bless you and God bless Texas!
How do you insure that new growth grows between the trellis wire and not outside the wire?
You don't.
If they come up where I don't want them, I dig them up and pot them to fill in any gaps later
Thanks!
2 questions if u don't mind...have u planted any of ur fall crop and when is the best time to plant corn??.I live in Texas as well, southeast
Very neat rows.And double wire.
Yes, that's exactly the way I did it, works great. Thank you.
You're welcome... BUT...
Here's an even BETTER trellis system: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html
What varieties are you trellising and what varieties are you pruning no higher than 3 to 4 feet, like in your other video? It seems like the Trellest are the thornless Flora canes in the 3 to 4 feet without trellises are the prima-canes. Great videos I enjoy watching them have learned a lot!
I trellised everything... primacanes and floracanes.
I also prune everything at around 4 feet. I don't make a distinction...
Hey brother, outstanding video as usual. How do you keep the grass down and do you fertilize them?
Awesome idea! Super cheap and very durable! When you planted the raspberries...how much space did you leave between them? I'm trying to grow my own trellis full of them.
I am one of those you speak of using the landscape timbers. I do mine like that for the look more than the strength. But I do like your system.
How do you keep the deer out? I'm def trying the bird netting for snakes, so thank you for that video!
So far, I don't have a deer problem.
Most have been run off by development
Looks great, I'm going to switch over to this method this summer myself. Thank you :)
Oh wow I would so plant some melons or squash underneath them in your rows to retain moisture and have an additional crop?
They wouldn't get much sun... but might work
Thank you that was very informational I can't wait to implement your techniques
Glad it was helpful!
Last year I changed the trellis design, and really like the new one better.
Here it is: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html
These blackberries are in containers, but the new trellis would work with in-ground blackberries too.
I think it's better than the first one I did.
this has to be the best way to trellis long rows. Thanks so much for sharing. Just a small question. in some other videos u say that your blackberry rows are about 2 feet in width at the base I believe. However, your rows in this video look perfectly in line, no width at all and even spacing all the way down. Is it better to prune them this way? Or does it not matter too much
They are planted in a straight row. One plant inline with another.
The reason I say they are about 2' wide, is that over the years, the new berry shoots have come up and spread the rows out a little. They are not inline with one another now.
With berries, all the plants die after they produce. They send up new shoots to reproduce themselves... but they are very seldom in the straight line that the 'mother plants' were planted.
I am contemplating using recycled fishing line that has been braided. I can get the stuff of free. Lots of work but I don't have a lot of land to worry with. Still in the planning stage.
Great video. I assume you use a herbicide to control weeds in your rows. Do you have any concern of it harming your plants? It would be great to see information on pruning.
I used them when I was laying the wire for my barn, but hadn't thought about them for this application. If they are long enough, they might work...
thanks for the comment
I like this, will try this at home with mine. Also, not to change the subject, but did you spray round-up around base with protecting the bramble canes? I need to keep weeds down, did not know if placing grass clippings or other mulch is a good idea?
brafberi 52982 I do spray with a generic roundup at about 1/2 strength to keep the grass down. Grass will be drawn to the composting mulch, and needs to be taken care of...
I use wood chips to mulch my berries, but you can use hay or leaves, etc...
I like your videos very much but am wondering what you use to spray the weeds around the base of your blackberry and raspberry plants that you have on the T post system. I am guessing you use Roundup but am curious because I would think that it might harm the plant.
I use about a 1/2 strength generic roundup... when I absolutely HAVE to.It doesn't seem to hurt the berries at all... but remember, I'm spraying at the base of the canes not the leaves.
Thanks so much for informative videos. I am about to plant one blackberry bush. I have a small area ,which has grass/weeds...this is the only space available. So, after removing the grass, would it be ok to lay down cardboard or landscaping fabric to prevent the grass/weeds fr growing? I'm concerned bec I heard the bush will send off runners....& I don't want to impede that process. Any help/suggestions w/b greatly appreciated. Thank you.
The cardboard MIGHT be deteriorated by the time (next year) the runners will try to come up, so it might be ok. But, I think I'd just use heavy mulch, hay, leaves, wood chips.
sorry when do you spray under your plants Great vid.
Got lots of questions but I’ll start with just one: I notice your rows are apparently sprayed to keep grass/weeds away?? What product do you use? Can roundup be used with no damage to berry plant? Obviously sprayed with care and minimal wind?
I usually mix my glyphosate at 1/2 strength. But, I can't guarantee that it won't hurt your plants... or you :(
why use roundup? how about using tree paint around base of plant to prevent suckers from coming up? I am a huge fan of your videos. what types blackberries are you growing?
I have 4 varieties.Arapaho and Quachita (both thornless)Prime Jan and Prime Jim (both thorned Primacane varieties)
HI thanks for the video, can you tell me what you sprayed under your raspberry shrubs to keep the weeds at bay? I see the weeds and grass is dead but it did not kill your raspberries.
At the time, I was using a 1/2 strength mix of glyphosate.
Now, I'm planting blackberries in containers, so I don't have to spray herbicides:
th-cam.com/play/PLutBw50GI1zw9M4UxWAN3n9yeJ_WYS8TD.html
I wonder if you could use wire coat hangers to make the stays. I can get some of those for free. I love growing food.
I bought two plants, quachita and triple crown. Both plants have short trunks with vines growing in 3 different directions. I have them in containers and assume I need a circular type trellis system?
Or a short version of this: th-cam.com/video/Xsnce7OiPjM/w-d-xo.html
Love the video! Great information! Where did you get your blackberry plants? Did you order all at one time? They are really nice ! Thanks again! A Farmer/ School bus driver Marlene Willoughby from SC
In this field, I got most of them from Nourse Farms online.
Since then, I've formed a partnership with Bob Wells Nursery: bobwellsnursery.com/
If you use BWN, use the Discount Code "TP2" and you'll get 10% off.
very nice.. i live in houston and 1 year old kiowa blackberries.. i am hoping they get much bigger this year .. how old are yours?
Not too sure about how you sprayed to keep the weeds down. I am modeling my blackberries after your system.
I saw you sprayed herbicide 1/2 strength. What herbicide / roundup ?
Was it sprayed in winter or summer ? Does it matter
I see the lower two feet of leaves have been stripped. Is that to stop the herbicide from being adsorbed into the plant by the foliage?
If anyone can reply it would be great. I have no experience with spraying and weeds are talking over my blackberries.
Will roundup kill just the grass and not the blackberries?
I found that roundup won't kill a mature blackberry plant. But, years of spraying it might have contributed to the patch dying after about 8 years.... that and a bad gopher infestation.
I am doing blackberries in containers this year and they are looking fantastic:
th-cam.com/play/PLutBw50GI1zw9M4UxWAN3n9yeJ_WYS8TD.html
I am starting my own homestead berry patch this spring and I didn’t want to go through the work of building a fancy trellis. This is exactly what I was thinking! Thanks!!!
I will likely rotate my post 180 degrees though as they will be stiffer to resist bending. Or at least that’s what my enginerd brain tells me. Have you found a reason to turn them the way you do or was that simply the default orientation?
I didn't see any reason to rotate them.
They held up well for several years like this... with a LOT of berry plants
Thank you for all of your video and that time invested in making them!! Just one question, what did you spray to kill the grass under your blackberry trellises? I am tired of cutting grass around mine.
John McAlhany oh, sorry, I just read through some of the comments and found the answer to my question. Thanks again for all that you do!
John McAlhany U R welcome...
How do you keep the weeds from growing around your berries? Do you spray them or put something down?? Your beds look really clean!
I use a 1/2 strength mix of a generic glyphosate
@@BIGALTX this dont harm the berry plants
I have been loving your videos. Thanks for all the help you've given me. It's spring of 2017 now. Are these still working for you?
Sure are. The wires have sagged a little from the weight, but they're still working.
They can be tightened up from time to time if needed
Thanks for responding. This is good to know. I'm gonna copy them for my berries.
What do u spray so no weeds grow around your berries and how do keep them very clean looking. And do u have both raspberries and blackberries planted .bc I want to do both raspberries and blackberries but some one told be the blackberries won't produce
Jenny Hanks I use a 1/2 strength solution of a generic roundup on the grass. I don't have any raspberries, but I understand they are grown the same way...
Great video - would 4 foot T-posts be too short to use? I have both sizes, but the 4 foot posts might be easier for me to install. Let me know. Thanks.
Marilyn
msanvideos If you pound the 4' ones in the ground 2'... you'll only have about 2' above ground. That may be too short... depending on how tall you want your berry plants. You could prune them shorter than I do... but would be your choice.
TexasPrepper2 Thanks, Tex. I actually pounded in the 6 foot T-posts today - I will have a friend come by and drive them down a little further. I bought the galvanized wire and will put that up tomorrow. So far, I only have 3 raspberry plants. I appreciate your advice.
Good video. I have been looking for an inexpensive way to trellis my blackberries. How deep are you setting your post?
They are 6' T-Posts and I drove them in about 2'
I'm trying to start my own berry farm in Arkansas. Did u have any problems when u put the wood chips on ur berries with fungus or mold?. I'm thinking about putting wood chips or fresh grass cuttings on mine to help with weeds. Any advice would greatly be appreciated sir thank you.
I used wood chips and hay... no problems.
Fresh grass clippings get pretty hot when they are composting, so not sure about using them.
Hay, leaves or wood chips is what I've used.
TexasPrepper2 thank u sir
Thanks, I'll try it. They have been pretty relentless on my berries and muscadines.
Suggest you try rebar wire ties...STRONG and various lengths. You can usually find them at construction sites for FREE. Ask first, though.
Too funny. I just purchased and installed T-post in my yard to hang my thornless Blackberry plants. I was worried about the posts pulling together so I did it a bot differently but it was quite inexpensive compared to other methods and way easier than diggin post holes for wood. I'm going to post a video of what I did later but In the meantime I'm directing my FB peeps to this one. Good stuff.
Just saw your video while i am searching what to pesticide from insects eating the fruits. My sister was mistakenly to plant my blackberry in flower bed, now it grow crazy, it shoots couple sprouts couple inches apart, now i have 3 blackberry plants. I dont have a lot of time taking care all the plants, the blackberry has 3 or 4 big stalks in 1 plant big and tall because i kept cutting them spreading everywhere to my yard. Can you give me an advice ?
Blackberries spread... that's what they do.
If you don't want them in your yard, you may have to kill them.
You might consider growing them in pots.
I've never done it, but several people have told me they do well in pots.
I have a roll of 14 guage galvanized utility wire, would that work, or does it have to be 17 gauge electric fence wire to stretch and wind around the post easily?
14 ga would work, and will be even sturdier.
It will be a lot 'stiffer' and be a little harder to string, but it should be even better.
How are you taking care of the grass I see that is dead under all of your blackberry plants? Did you hit it with some roundup without killing the blackberries or did you flame weed it or something else?
A generic glyphosate (roundup) at about 1/2 strength.
The G doesn't seem to hurt adult plants sprayed at their base... but do a test first on your berries to make sure.
How did this end up working? And we're considering putting a couple grape and raspberry plants each on one line. How far apart would you recommend the plants? Would you recommend staggering the kinds of plants or keeping like kinds together?
This has worked great for me... for blackberries... but would be too flimsy for grapes. They would just be too heavy. They T-Posts would not be heavy duty enough to hold them up (my opinion).I plant blackberries about 3'-4' apart and grapes between 5'-7' apart.I always keep like kinds together, if for no other reason than telling them apart when it comes time to propagate them.
Thank you!
I have a very thick blackberry patch, about 60 feet long and 30' wide, more or less. They have been unattended/cultivated for many years. Like raspberries, can I burn the patch and, if so, when is the time to burn?
I have never burned a patch off.If you are wanting to kill them, I don't think burning will do that. In fact, it will probably spur them on to grow more. Goats/sheep are a great way to get rid of them.If they are native berries, not cultivated ones, I would try to get rid of them. They won't produce enough to worry with. If they are cultivated ones, you can start trying to gain back control... but it will take a while... good luck
No, not kill them...I want to get them down to get the canes ready for new growth. The canes are so think that they need MAJOR thinning. I'm thinking that I can manage the patches that I have by starting over and thinning what comes up this spring.
I believe they are a cultivated variety (thorned canes) and the berries are very sweet and plump.
I've contacted the nearest volunteer fire department about helping me with the controlled burn and await their response this week.
I'll video the project when it begins.
nice! How did this hold up? did it last over the winter to the next year, or did you have to replace it?
I've had it up for several years. No problems. The wire's gotten a little looser, but I can tighten if I want to
This is excellent- agree with you - prefer your method to the wood post. I was too afraid to put my raspberry plants in the ground here in Ga. We consider blackberry brambles weeds here. They are EVERYWHERE- So I planted them in large pots. I had the best harvest until the first frost mid December. Now - Keeping them in the pots, I want to make your trellis to train them to the entrance to my small potager. So grateful for your video !
Good for you !
Glad I could help.
Nice organization. But please tell me that you are not using Round-Up at the base of the blackberries.
I do use a 1/2 strength gereric roundup.
I've tried vinegar, etc with no success.
The grass is Coastal Bermuda and is very hard to kill.
im inspired,,how many t post did u use through out the 100 foot row,,im gonna do that for mine,i was wondering how to trellis them
jeanne miller I think I explain it in a video, better than I can explain in a comment.
I have a full Playlist on raising blackberries. Here's the video on the trellis:
th-cam.com/video/DZwjXRFgR5g/w-d-xo.html