Arbuckle Mountain Area Chapter
Blackberry Patches

Blackberries can be a pain for cattle ranchers in our area as it can be hard to control and can be somewhat invasive.  Prescribed fire, mowing and disking can help.  The good news is that 2-4 year old stands can be very good cover for quail and can provide a source of food for all types of wildlife when the fruit produces.  Generally, the fruit makes on 2nd year canes.

Blackberries can also be good for us too!  There are several varieties and sometimes the exposure to sun and moisture allows the fruit to ripen at different times even on the same ranch.  Generally expect them to ripen between early June and mid July.

Once you have found a patch that produces well, you can transplant them easily in the early spring to make new patches in areas lacking.  Generally they will do better in sparse areas not in competition with other weeds and grasses, but they can be directly planted in pastures as well.

Blackberries can be controlled with herbicides, like Remedy, applied during the fruiting time.  Prescribed fire or brush hogging may be the easiest methods