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JULY 2025
Backyard Briefings
LET’S TALK Berry Bushes
Welcome back to another edition of Backyard Briefings.
To think that this year is already half way over is crazy to me, because I remember when I first started this newsletter. Here we are seven months later and we have learned so much already.
Honestly, I love being able to put out content like this for you. And with so much uncertainty happening right now, learning how to become more self-sustainable is key for future success. One of the easiest first steps you should take to becoming self-sufficient is the “set it and forget it” method. I don’t know if that’s actually a thing in the garden, but let me explain.
METHODSSetIt, ForgetIt
Obviously, you should never forget about the plants in your garden, but established trees and bushes can be left alone for a few days with little maintenance. So as a beginner, those are the first things you should plant in the garden, mainly because they are perennial. This means you plant once and they come back every year, (hence the set it and forget it.)
One thing about perennial bushes and many perennials plants is that they take a few years to mature before they actually produce. This is true for most berry bushes like blackberry and blueberry, raspberry can take some time too but not as much time. Also if you are planning to use that food to feed you until the next season, keep in mind that quantity matters!
QUANTITY Matters
So if I had the knowledge when I first started that I do now, I definitely would have done things differently. For example, I know a few homesteaders who put bushes along the fence line for privacy. And let me tell you, I wish I would have done that. When I planted my bushes, I planted them in planter boxes which is limited space and quite honestly a waste of a planter box. But lesson learned. I tell you this because using a fence line or even having a specific plot of bushes allows you to grow multiple plants at a time and continue adding to it. Because let me tell you, only having one or two bushes isn’t going to provide enough berries to last a family for a year, so plan accordingly.
CARING FOR Berry Bushes
Let’s not forget that the more bushes you have the more care that will be required. For me raspberry bushes are the easiest to care for. They grow straight up and pruning them only requires cutting old branches to allow for new growth.
So many people hate on blackberry bushes because they spread everywhere, but you can easily keep them contained. They also need to be trained to grow up which is why many people choose to grow them along a fence line.
Blueberries on the other hand, those seem to be a bit tricky. For some reason, I cannot get blueberries to produce. We had berries the first spring we planted them and not a single fruit since then. I haven’t quite cracked that mystery yet, but hopefully soon.
OFthe pace HER SECRET nature; is patience
ADOPT
Ralph Waldo Emerson
SEASONALBiennial shoots
I once read that certain shoots produce every other year if properly pruned. And that’s true, but the main stem itself still produces every year, so some shoots may have fruits while others may have them the following year.
Because of this, it is important to learn how to prune your bushes to provide every year, because if you don’t, you may not end with fruit for a few years.
In my case, my dogs run through the bushes and rip the shoots out every year so there is no time to produce fruit as the main stem has to re-mature every year. So keep animals away from your garden if possible to avoid damage.
EFFICIENCY Watering
I have posted or seen posted in plenty of gardening groups about watering schedules. And a majority of the answers were all different. I think the simplest answer would be it depends! It depends on your zone, it depends on your set up, and it depends on your preference.
If you like getting up every morning and watering your plants then a quick water with the hose is fine, but plants don’t like getting their leaves wet so just make sure you are only watering the soil.
But if that sounds a bit overwhelming to you and if you have a huge garden, it probably is. I encourage you to try a drip system. That will increase your efficiency and take the burden off of you so you don’t have to experience burnout after a few years.
YOUR PUBLISHERMeetthepublisher
Alexis is passionate about self-sufficiency and the opportunities that come with being self-sufficient. She has been gardening for about 4 years; often experimenting with growing different kinds of food and propagating healthy cuttings for her small nursery.
In addition to homesteading, her experience expands over a variety of marketing skills including graphic design, web development, social media and email marketing, PR, and publishing. She’s also writing a book!
