How do you plant blackberries?

To plant blackberries, till the soil, prune the blackberry plants, dig planting holes, insert the blackberries, water them and fertilize the plants. This process takes several hours and requires blackberry bushes, a tiller, compost, a trowel, water, pruning shears and fertilizer.

1. Till the soil

   Clear the ground of rocks, sticks and other debris. Till the soil to a depth of 8 inches. Add a 2-inch layer of compost, and till the soil again.

2. Prune the blackberries

   Prune each blackberry cane back to a length of 6 to 8 inches. If you purchase pre-pruned blackberries from a nursery, skip this step.

3. Dig planting holes

   Dig one planting hole for each blackberry bush. Make the holes slightly wider than the root balls.

4. Insert the blackberry bushes

   Set the bushes in the holes, and then cover them with soil until each hole is three-fourths full. The juncture of the stems and root balls should be level with the adjacent ground.

5. Water the bushes

   Pour 1 to 2 gallons of water over the roots of each blackberry bush. Pack the rest of the soil into the holes, and water the bushes until the soil is saturated.

6. Fertilize the blackberries

   Fertilize the blackberries with a fertilizer labeled "balanced" or "10-10-10." Apply it according to the directions on the package.