Ouachita Thornless Blackberry

Before planting

• Keep roots cool and moist until planting, but not sitting in standing water.

• Right before planting, soak the bare roots in a bucket of clean water for 30–60 minutes.

Prepare the hole

• Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil.

• Dig a hole wide enough to spread the roots out naturally (about 12–15 inches wide and 8–10 inches deep).

• Loosen the soil in the bottom and sides of the hole. You can mix in some compost with the backfill soil.

Set the plant depth

• Make a small mound of soil in the center of the hole.

• Spread the roots evenly over the mound so they point outward and slightly downward.

• Position the plant so the crown (where the roots meet the stem) is just at or slightly below the soil surface level.

Backfill and firm

• Backfill the hole with the loosened soil, gently working it in around the roots.

• Lightly firm the soil with your hands as you go to remove air pockets, but do not compact it hard.

Water in

• Water thoroughly right after planting until the soil is evenly moist around the root zone.

• If the soil settles a lot, add a bit more soil to keep the crown at the correct height.

Mulch

• Apply 2–3 inches of mulch (wood chips, pine bark, straw) around the plant in a circle about 18–24 inches wide.

• Keep mulch a couple of inches away from the cane to prevent rot.

First-season care

• Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged while the plant is getting established.

• Keep weeds and grass cleared from around the plant so they do not compete with the new roots.