Gardening advice for autumn blackberry pruning and soil care

Autumn gardening practices focus on plant maintenance and soil preservation. For blackberry cultivation, it is recommended to prune after the harvest, typically in September or early October. Pruning involves removing stems that have already fruited and leaving approximately 5–7 of the strongest one-year-old shoots to ensure future fruit production. This process should be done during dry weather to prevent infections and before heavy frosts.

Regarding soil health, deep digging with a spade is discouraged as it can destroy worm tunnels, damage mycorrhizal fungi, and bring weed seeds to the surface. Instead, the sheet mulching method is suggested. This involves layering plain cardboard (without tape or printing) with organic matter, such as nitrogen-rich green materials and carbon-rich brown materials. This approach mimics natural forest processes, creating fertile humus by spring while protecting beneficial microorganisms.