Wild blackberry bushes do have thorns.   And if you’ve ever tried to grab a handful of wild blackberries without paying attention, you already know exactly what those thorns feel like.   The truth is, wild blackberry bushes are famous for their prickly canes, and those sharp little daggers are one of the main reasons … Read more

Yes, you can cut back blackberries in the fall, and for many growers, it’s actually one of the best times to do it.   Fall pruning helps tidy up the canes after the growing season and sets your plants up for healthier growth the following spring.   If you’ve been wondering whether it’s safe to … Read more

No, thornless blackberry bushes do not strictly need a trellis to survive, but they definitely benefit from one.   If you’ve been asking yourself, “do thornless blackberry bushes need a trellis,” the short answer is that while they can grow without one, a trellis makes a huge difference in their health and productivity.   Thornless … Read more

Thornless blackberry bushes do spread, and they can spread quite aggressively once they’re established.   That surprises a lot of gardeners who assume “thornless” also means “well-behaved.”   If you’ve been asking yourself, “do thornless blackberry bushes spread,” the short answer is yes, and understanding how they spread is the key to keeping them under … Read more

Whitetail deer eat blackberries, and they absolutely love them.   If you’ve ever wondered do whitetail deer eat blackberries, the short answer is a resounding yes.   These wild berries are a favorite seasonal treat for deer across North America.   In this post, we’ll explore why whitetail deer eat blackberries, how they find them, … Read more

Yes, wild blackberries have thorns.   That’s the short answer, and it’s true for the vast majority of wild blackberry plants you’ll encounter.   But there’s a bit more to the story because not every wild blackberry patch is the same, and some plants out there look like blackberries but play by different rules.   … Read more

Snakes do like blackberry bushes, and these thorny shrubs can actually be quite attractive to them for several reasons.   If you’ve ever spotted a snake slithering near a blackberry patch and wondered whether snakes like blackberry bushes, you’re not alone.   The truth is that blackberry bushes offer snakes excellent cover, a steady supply … Read more

Raspberries do spread, but they don’t spread quite like blackberries do.   If you’ve ever wondered “do raspberries spread like blackberries,” the short answer is that both spread aggressively, but they do it in different ways and at different speeds.   Blackberries tend to spread faster and more aggressively than raspberries because of their long, … Read more

Yes, skunks eat blackberries, and these sweet, juicy berries can actually be a tasty treat for them when they come across a patch in the wild.   If you’ve ever wondered do skunks eat blackberries, the short answer is absolutely, and they seem to enjoy them just as much as we do.   Skunks are … Read more

Rattlesnakes do not eat blackberries.   These venomous pit vipers are strict carnivores, meaning their bodies are built to hunt and digest prey, not fruit.   So if you’ve ever wondered “do rattlesnakes eat blackberries?”, the short answer is a firm no.   A rattlesnake’s diet is made up entirely of animals like mice, rats, … Read more