Blackberries require trellising to support the canes, keep fruit off the ground and protect canes from wind damage. The exception is ornamental, dwarf, everbearing, erect cultivars; these also produce much lower yields (see “Harvest,” page 13).

Do you tie up blackberry bushes?

Erect varieties of blackberry are self-supporting and do not need to be tied to a support stake or trellis, though the blackberry patch is more accessible, organized and productive if all blackberry canes are provided with a sturdy support.

Do blackberry plants need pollination?

Self-fruitful blackberries can set fruit using their own pollen; however, the flowers do require pollinators, such as native bees, honeybees or the wind, to transfer pollen from the anther of the male flower to the stigma of the female flower on the same plant.