Month-by-month lists of common plant diseases, pests, and other problems you may encounter in North Carolina yards and gardens. Straight from our PDIC (Plant Disease & Insect Clinic) entomologists and pathologists!
Soil Testing - Free until December! November is the last opportunity to submit soil samples to be processed free of charge. December-March there will be a $4.00 per sample fee added. Below are some helpful links and information to help you collect these samples. Importance of Soil Testing: https://bit.ly/3EBpE64 Find & View Your Soil Test Report: https://bit.ly/3w4VB3q
Blackberry Pruning 101
Now that our blackberries are done producing fruit, it is time to trim out the canes that produced this year (called the floricanes) to make room for the canes that will produce next season (called the primocanes)!
Pruning blackberries is almost as easy as pruning blueberries. A few key things to remember:
Most blackberries produce on two-year-old canes
Prune all floricanes out after harvesting is complete
Prune lateral branches on primocanes (next season’s floricanes) to 12-18 inches in late winter (February)
Tip upcoming primocanes in early summer to around chest height (this encourages lateral branching, sturdier stems, and manageable picking height)
You can do this by simply pinching the top buds of the primocane with your fingers
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.
