Plant techniques
Train and prune boysenberries
Mark the canes carrying this season’s fruit.
When to do it
Train new canes as they grow; remove spent canes after their crop finishes.
What you need
- Strong wire or trellis system
- Gloves, secateurs and soft ties
How to do it
- Mark the canes carrying this season’s fruit. Keep new replacement canes separate, for example on the other side of the support.
- Guide flexible new canes onto the support without sharply bending them. Tie loosely and keep them out of paths.
- After harvesting, trace each spent fruiting cane to its base and cut it out, avoiding the new replacement canes.
- Spread and secure retained canes to carry the following crop. Shorten only as needed for the training space and cultivar guidance.
- Remove cut material and inspect ties during growth. Prevent cane tips rooting where you do not want extra plants.
What success looks like
- Old fruiting wood is removed while healthy replacement canes remain.
Watch out for
- Cutting all canes down after harvest.
- Letting a tangled mass hide which canes have fruited.
Plant guides using this technique
Boysenberry
Cultivated trailing bramble producing large dark berries.
Related help
Check supports and tie in climbing plants
Give growing stems support without squeezing or rubbing them.
Make a clean pruning cut and choose what to remove
Identify the plant and its flowering or fruiting wood before cutting.
Sources and review
Checked 24 September 2026. Source-checked editorial guidance; not field-tested or independently reviewed by a horticulturist.