Software
Houzz Logo Print
bellamart

Please Help Me With Blackberry Bushes!!!

8 years ago

I don't know what this is, but it's pretty nasty looking!! I've never seen anything like before and don't know if I have to get rid of all my blackberry bushes or can they be saved before it spreads across all of them?! All I do know is I live in upstate NY (zone 6) and last year I cut back my bushes a lot because they were growing crazy! We had that bone chilling cold spell last winter - I don't know if that had anything to do with it? Last month, they were filling in beautifully and I was so thrilled! I don't understand what has happened between then and now? Can anyone please help me?!

Comments (4)

  • 8 years ago

    Not sure what's going on, but I'd definitely remove the first one! The 2nd one looks like it could be from winter or physical damage... if it didn't start out looking like that then I'd remove it too. Re the 3rd, I'm not far from you and we've just come out of a long hot dry spell -- assume you had the same. Did you make sure they had enough water during that time?

  • 8 years ago

    Thanks for response! Yes, I have removed it, but wondering if it will take care of the problem or if it will spread? I'm just not sure if all three are related or if they are three separate issues? I guess I'm also worried that it might be some kind of insect related issue? Last year there was some webbing on them, but I really hesitate to spray since I don't want to have my family ingesting it!

  • 8 years ago

    I'd guess the first (and maybe second) problem is a bacterial cane gall -- injured canes are susceptible. According to my research, remove those canes and destroy them... Keep your pruners clean, cut only when dry, and be careful not to damage other canes.

    Not sure about the last (limp) cane... Over the years I've had something similar happen to the tip of an occasional BB cane, but there's always a distinct black ring around the cane at the point where it starts to go limp, and I just cut the cane below that black ring. Your photo makes it look like the whole cane is limp. Are you certain that cane hasn't been broken/dislodged at the base?

  • 8 years ago

    It seems (so far) like everything is ok now... I guess I panicked since in that first pic, I never saw anything like that before and it had me pretty freaked out! I was afraid it was going to spread across that whole bush or more. I have never heard of bacterial cane gall before. Not sure what the deal is with that last pic. That one was not broken or anything, but I had removed all of them after I took the pics. I was imagining having to start from scratch again with new plants. Do you think/know if it will hurt the fruit on the other cane coming from the same plant and if it will still be safe to consume?