- 1). Choose a sunny location with good water drainage. Blackberries can grow in almost any type of soil, but a rocky area would not be ideal. Blackberry bushes should also not be grown in areas that have had tomatoes, peppers, potatoes or strawberries in the last few years.
- 2). Check the hardiness zone of your area to make sure you are planting these bushes at the right time of year. They should ideally be planted in spring after the last frost of the season.
- 3). Dig a hole approximately 18 inches deep, depending on the size of your plant. Make sure this hole is wide enough to accommodate the roots. Dig each hole approximately 2 feet apart, with at least 7 feet between rows.
- 4). Put on your gardening gloves and pick up your plant. Place the bush in the hole and pack the soil firmly around the roots, taking care not to cover too deeply. The bush should be covered just over the top of the roots.
- 5). Add a thick layer of mulch around the base of your plants and between rows. This is essential in keeping weeds from taking over your bushes and keeping moisture in the plants. Remember that it will be difficult to get close to the plant to remove weeds due to the prickly thorns on most native species.
- 6). Prune the canes of your blackberries in the fall of the second year after planting. Trim these canes to approximately 7 feet in height. You may want to trim your the width of your bushes to allow space between each one. Trim any branches that appear unhealthy or grow erratically. The thorny brambles could become unruly if left unchecked.
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