How to transplant blackberries

In connection with the redevelopment of the site or for other reasons, the plants are transplanted to another place. So that the culture does not die, it is necessary to choose the right time, prepare the site and the seedling itself. Now we will look at how to transplant blackberries and provide the plant with proper care for further development.

Why transplant blackberries to a new place

Wild blackberries can grow up to 30 years in one place. A cultivated plant after 10 years must be transplanted to another place. The process consists of carefully digging up a bush, cutting off all branches, carrying the root system with a clod of earth. The plant is planted in a new hole so that the root neck remains at the same level.

The main purpose of the transplant is to update the bush. By dividing, you can propagate your favorite variety. A transplant may be required simply in the case of redevelopment of the yard or, if necessary, to divide a huge overgrown bush.

When is the best time to transplant blackberries: in spring or autumn

Blackberries are transplanted in spring and autumn. However, each season has its own advantages and disadvantages. The optimal timing of transplantation is determined taking into account the climatic conditions of the region.

The advantages of transplanting in early spring are the guaranteed survival rate of the seedling. The option is more suitable for the northern regions, since the plant transplanted in the fall does not have time to take root before frost. The disadvantage of spring transplantation is the difficulty of accurately determining the timing. It is necessary to catch that short period in which the process of sap flow has not yet begun, and the earth has already thawed after the winter.

A positive feature of the autumn transplant is the rooting of the seedling. In early spring, the plant grows quickly. However, blackberries need to be transplanted two months before the expected date of the onset of frost. For the winter, the seedling is well insulated. For the northern regions, the autumn transplant method is not available, and this is a big drawback. The advantage of the method is fully appreciated by the inhabitants of the south.

When can you transplant blackberries to another place

The specific timing of transplantation in the spring is determined by weather conditions. Usually falls in April. In May, blackberries can no longer be touched. The plant begins the active phase of sap flow.

The time of autumn transplantation falls at the end of September – the beginning of October, provided that there are no early frosts in the region.

A set of preparatory measures

The transplantation process is conditionally divided into two stages: preparatory and main work. The steps are the same for thornless and thornless blackberries.

Choosing a suitable site

The site for transplantation is chosen according to the same rules observed when planting a young seedling. For the plant choose a sunny place, protected from the north winds. It is advisable to choose a hill, but make a recess for the seedling itself. On a mound, blackberries will not be flooded with rain and melt water, and in the hole under the plant, water will be better kept during irrigation.

The site is chosen with loamy or sandy soil. You can transplant the culture to the garden, where any garden crops grew last season, except for nightshade and berry plants.

Soil Preparation

In order for the transplanted bush to take root, it is necessary to carefully prepare the soil:

• conduct a soil acidity test and, if necessary, bring it to neutral values;
• the site is dug to a depth of 50 cm;
• weed roots are selected from the ground;
• 10 cm layer of compost and 3 cm layer of any crushed organic matter are evenly spread over the bed: leaves, sawdust;
• from mineral fertilizers calcium, phosphorus, magnesium are introduced;
• all layers are once again dug up together with the soil;
• the bed is abundantly poured with water, covered with 8 cm of mulch to speed up the process of overheating of organic matter;
• in the place of the proposed planting of the seedling, a trellis is installed.

When preparing the soil for transplanting blackberries, acidity is increased by adding ferrous sulfate at the rate of 500 g / 10 m². It is possible to apply 300 g of sulfur to a similar area, but the process will go more slowly. Lime is added to reduce acidity.

Preparation of planting material

To transplant a blackberry to another place, it must first be dug up. They try to dig an adult bush to the maximum depth with a shovel from all sides. The plant is taken out of the soil so that a clod of earth is preserved. In this state, the blackberry is transferred to another place.

The preparation of an adult bush begins with pruning of the aerial part. You can’t leave stumps from old branches, pests will start in them and the plant will disappear.

If a large bush is transplanted, then it is propagated by division. The process consists of the following steps:

• the plant to be transplanted is dug in from all sides, removed from the ground, gently kneaded with a clod of soil to release the roots;
• the bush is divided with a sharp knife so that each cut off seedling has 2–3 branches and 1 underground bud on the roots;
• Divided planting material is planted in prepared holes.

The division of the bush during transplantation can be done in the spring immediately after the snow melts or in the fall 2 months before the onset of frost.

Transplanting blackberries to a new place in the spring

When transplanting, the mother bush can be propagated not only by division, but also by root processes. The last method involves planting seedlings from young shoots. Regardless of the method of reproduction, transplantation is carried out in the following order:

• Before transplanting, they plan the arrangement of plants in the garden. Blackberries are planted in rows. A space of up to 2 m is left between seedlings of upright varieties. For a creeping crop, the distance is increased to 3 m. The row spacing also depends on the type of bush and ranges from 1,8 to 3 m.
• If young shoots are used for transplantation, then a hole is dug 50 cm deep, with a diameter according to the size of the root. For an old bush, a hole is dug according to the dimensions of the root system. It is better to transplant blackberries into trenches 50 cm deep, dug along the length of the beds.
• During plant transplantation, 1 bucket of compost, 100 g of mineral complex fertilizers are added to each well, but it is better to get by with one organic matter.
• The bush to be transplanted is dug up from all sides. In an adult plant, the root goes far deep into the earth. It will not be possible to extract it. The rhizome is simply chopped off with a spade bayonet.
• Blackberries are carefully transferred, immersed in a new hole, covered with earth.

After transplantation, the plant is watered abundantly, maintaining moisture until complete engraftment. After watering, the near-stem soil is covered with mulch.

Transplanting blackberries to a new place in the fall

Autumn transplantation begins after the end of fruiting. Before the onset of frost should remain about two months. During this time, the transplanted plant will have time to take root. The process of autumn and spring transplantation is identical. The only difference is the protection of the seedling from frost. After the autumn transplant, the near-stem soil is covered with a thick layer of mulch. Additionally, before the onset of winter, they organize a reliable shelter made of spruce branches or non-woven material.

It is possible to replant in the fall not the entire bush, but young shoots from the roots. They are called offspring. Young growth is the best option for preserving and propagating a variety, as it eliminates the difficult process of transplanting an old bush.

Many varieties of creeping blackberries do not produce offspring. In order not to transplant the old bush, the culture is propagated by layering. In August, the blackberry lash is bent to the ground, covered with soil, leaving the top. In a month, the layering will take root. The resulting seedling in September is separated from the bush and transplanted to another place.

Is it possible to transplant blackberries in summer

Theoretically, a blackberry summer transplant can be carried out, but there is no guarantee of a 100% survival rate of the plant. For testing, it is better to choose a variety that is not a pity. In order for the summer transplant to be successful, adhere to the following rules:

• transplant in the early morning or late evening;
• all work is done as quickly as possible;
• immediately after transplantation, a shading structure is equipped over the blackberry;
• Water the transplanted plant abundantly daily.

In summer, the dug out plant is detrimental to the heat. If the blackberry is not immediately planted in a permanent place, it will quickly wither.

Blackberry care after transplant

Caring for a transplanted plant is no different than for other blackberry bushes. Initially, abundant watering is needed. Feeding is not to be rushed. Mineral fertilizers can burn the root system that has not taken root. Over time, after adaptation to a new place, you can begin to make organic matter.

Caring for a transplanted blackberry requires standard steps:

• In autumn and spring, pruning and shaping of bushes are carried out. Blackberry lashes are tied to a trellis. For the winter, the stems are bent to the ground, covered with spruce branches or other insulation.
• In summer, blackberries are sometimes affected by gall mites. You can fight the pest with chemicals or an infusion of garlic.
• After the heat has gone on warm evenings, blackberries are irrigated with cool water. Sprinkling hardens young stems.
• The next spring after transplantation, blackberries are fed with potassium during the appearance of buds.

The transplanted plant initially needs to provide proper care for quick rooting.

More information about blackberry transplantation is shown in the video:

Conclusion

A transplant is no different from a landing. The only negative is that there is a threat that the old bush will not engraft if the roots are badly damaged.