We have several acres of woodlands and a large (1/4 acre) wild blackberry patch. Last year we had some Japanese Beetle issues, but for the most part they were healthy, if small due to the weather. This year however, the fuiting canes look terrible. They're covered with small berries but the leaves are brown and spotty and sparse. They new canes that will bear next year look very healthy.

Do we have a disease? Can I do anything to save this patch? We're considering just mowing down the whole field and trying to get the healthiest canes to grow in some order. I know, some people consider them weeds...but I LOVE wild blackberries and this is not a place we live, just visit occasionally, so I can't actually cultivate anything that requires any work.

If you have any ideas of what we can do, I'd really appreciate a response. Thanks!

Healthy primacanes