Pruning Blackberries for a Bigger Harvest | Homestead Tips.

[@jodiatkinson9552]

You two are such a joy to watch! I look forward to your videos each week! You help me to have confidence in trying new things. Thank you for your videos! I know that they take time to plan and film and edit, and I am grateful!

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

Thank you for the encouragement. They are a lot of work so it really helps to know that people appreciate them. I love trying new things and they usually work out ok. Thanks for watching.

[@Susan-n3o3e]

Another great video. Very very interesting. Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed watching.❤

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@aprilmogensen]

You give so much interesting information. Appreciate your videos.

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

We're so glad you enjoy our videos. Thanks for watching!

[@dinahsisson487]

Petals From The Past and Dr. Powell! Love him and the Petals location is only about 45 minutes from me, have been there many times. We have one Elderberry bush in the back and had wanted to grow more, now I know exactly to "do all the complicated steps and the process to get new ones to grow." 🙂 Love all of your videos and looking forward to more great ones in 2025!

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

Dr. Powell was so thorough....I love his tutorials. I was shocked to discover how easy it was to propogate elderberries. Glad you enjoy the videos.

[@jennterrell3316]

Love the questions Don always asks - I’m usually like, “wait, what was that for? Why?” Don comes in to ask the questions which is awesome because Brenda steps in to explain the “why” and it makes total sense.

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

He does ask the perfect questions. He's pretty handy to have around. 😁

[@JudyH-qq7bs]

Have you thought about tying a piece of tape around the bottom of plants that will be producing next year? I think it would be easier to know which ones to cut back in the fall. Just a thought, you are the professionals.

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

I can usually tell which ones are which. If I couldn't tell them apart, the tape would be a great idea.

[@meadowsweetfarmfiberartsdesign]

The elderberry teas sound great. There is a really popular channel called the “Last Homely House” and she makes like a fritter from the flowers… it looks good!🙂 Love your videos!!!

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

I'll definitely check out her channel...thanks! Thanks for the encouragement too.

[@mindysworld7675]

My husband loves the styl brand also ❤

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

It's usually the most reliable and holds up well to hard use.

[@beadwright]

Thanks for sharing this. We habe wild, thorny dewberries (small blackberries) that grow everywhere here in Houston.

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

I never heard of dewberries. Do they taste like blackberries? We have wild black raspberries that grow around here long the tree lines.

[@beadwright]

@@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764 they are similar to blackberries, much smaller and lots of thorns. The birds seed them everywhere and they grow wild on fence lines, railroad tracks, vacant lots, etc...

[@Longfamily3]

This was so helpful and interesting!! We are intrigued by your support trellis for the blackberries. My husband wondered what the square metal poles are? They are perfect for that support trellis! Thanks so much!!

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

The metal square poles were actually leftover metal pieces from our high tunnel. The wooden structures were't quite enough to hold the wires up so the metal poles give extra support between the wooden ones.

[@Longfamily3]

@@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764 thank you so much!! My husband does alot with metal and couldn't figure out what they would be to secure some for a trellis. That is a great repurposing for extra support!!

[@patriciadewitt3591]

What do you have planted in between your fruit trees? Looks like a low mounded plants. Beautiful trees and bushes!!

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

There is comfrey between the fruit trees. It's an amazing plant. It's called a dynamic acculumlater because it has a 3 ft. tap root that gets minerals and things that most plants can't reach. I do what is called chop and drop where I chop off the leaves 2-3 times a summer and use that as a mulch around plants. It's a mulch and a fertilizer all in one. Check out videos about comfrey. It also has some medicinal value too.

[@horticultureandhomes]

Don wins on the Elderberry. They mature out between 12x12 to 16x16. You'll be pruning a great deal if you don't move them out to the orchard. They will send out shoots further and further out just like the blackberries do. I think someone needs electric pruning shears. Some come with extension poles that Don would also find handy in the orchard.

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

Brenda here....Don is very happy to be vindicated. We will hopefully get them all moved eventually to a place where they will have more room. Thanks for the suggestion of the electric pruning shears. We didn't even know they existed.....just ordered them. THANKS!

[@horticultureandhomes]

@@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764 You're Welcome. I wasn't ready to shell out over 2K for Felco professional electric pruners just yet. I spent $200 instead 2 yrs ago and they are still going strong and have paid for themselves in time saved. Felco hand pruners are wonderful and the industry standard for a reason. The best $50 I spent over 25 yrs ago. They make many styles but for women, you can't beat the ergonomic #8 felco. I'm left handed and have the #9 version. I can work longer with them and get better leverage. You can buy replacement blades and parts for them. Every year or two I take them apart and give them a tune up. I have replaced the blades one time thus far. The next time you need to replace hand pruners, you might want to try those out too. Happy pruning!

[@dfegley302]

Is it too late to get some elderberry starts? I'd love to purchase from you if you still have some. Im watching this video a few weeks late, but can't hurt to ask 😊

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

Hi, You can just have some elderberry branches. I still have a lot of them to trim in the chicken yard. Just let me know when you want to stop by and I'll cut them right before that so they are fresh. You will just have to be sure to keep them watered. (especially since we are in such a dry spell right now)

[@AlexWaardenburg]

Should just replace your Stihl multi tool with an Ego multi tool.

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

Might be a good idea.

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

But the battery powered saws- all works great too!

[@cindyschmidt899]

Please if you will, let people know Black Raspberry's and the simple Blackberries. I know the difference but many people think they are the same thing. I argued this, with a friend. I'm not sure who'd need this lesson but I know many people have idea they are the same.

[@waardenburgfamilyfarm4764]

We have mentioned the difference when we do tours of the garden or when I make jam. (I've made ones using black raspberry and blackberry) You are right that a lot of people don't know the difference. Some of the customers at our farm stand didn't know there was a difference, but they do now. I'll try to remember to mention that fact anytime we talk about either one. Thanks!