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🫐 Overwintering Blackberry & Loganberry Canes UK

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🌸 Introduction: Do Blackberries & Loganberries Need Winter Care?

Blackberries and loganberries are naturally hardy plants that thrive in UK climates. They survive winter well, but proper winter preparation hugely improves next year’s growth and fruiting. Winter issues include:

• frost damage on young canes
• wind snapping long stems
• poorly tied canes rubbing and breaking
• root freeze in potted plants
• crown stress reducing fruit production
• tangled, overcrowded canes

With simple winter care, your canes will be strong, healthy and ready to fruit heavily next summer.

Below are the best products to help protect blackberry and loganberry canes in UK winters.

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⭐ Check Out Our Recommended Products

• Bark or Compost Mulch

Insulates roots and protects crowns from hard frost.
Click here to see them

• Frost Protection Fleece

Useful for young plants or exposed gardens during freezing weather.
Click here to see them

• Soft Plant Ties

Essential for securing canes to supports and preventing wind damage.
Click here to see them

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🌿 How Hardy Are Blackberry & Loganberry Canes in the UK?

Both are extremely hardy and tolerate temperatures down to –20°C.

However:

• young canes are more sensitive
• long canes are prone to wind damage
• potted plants freeze faster
• exposed gardens need more protection

Most plants survive winter easily with proper pruning and tying.

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🌱 Step-by-Step: Overwintering Blackberries & Loganberries

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✂️ Step 1: Prune Out Old Fruited Canes

After fruiting, cut all the canes that produced berries this year down to ground level.

These are usually brown and woody.

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🌱 Step 2: Keep New Canes (Next Year’s Fruit)

New green canes are the ones that will fruit next summer — keep them all.

Sort and separate them for better airflow.

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🪢 Step 3: Tie In New Canes Securely

Tie canes to:

• wires
• trellises
• arches
• fences

Space them out to prevent tangling and wind rub.

Good tying is key to winter survival.

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🍁 Step 4: Mulch the Crown

Use 5–10 cm of:

• compost
• leaf mould
• bark

Mulch protects roots and improves soil structure.

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🌬 Step 5: Protect from Wind

Strong winds can snap canes.

Use:

• soft plant ties
• sturdy trellis
• sheltered planting positions

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🪴 Overwintering Blackberries & Loganberries in Pots

Potted plants freeze quicker and require more care.

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❄️ Step 1: Move Pots to Shelter

Place them:

• against a south-facing wall
• in a cold greenhouse
• into a sheltered corner

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🧵 Step 2: Wrap the Pot

Use:

• fleece
• bubble wrap
• hessian

This protects roots from freeze–thaw cycles.

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💧 Step 3: Water Lightly

Only water if soil feels dry.

Winter wet = root rot.

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🌱 Do Canes Die Back in Winter?

Yes — some dieback is natural.

However:

• old canes should be removed completely
• young canes may brown slightly
• buds remain dormant until spring

Healthy canes leaf out strongly in March–April.

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✂️ Winter vs Summer Pruning

Blackberries & Loganberries fruit on 2-year-old canes.

That means:

• Year 1: Cane grows
• Year 2: Cane fruits → then is removed

Winter is the perfect time to do your main prune.

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❄️ Common Winter Problems

❌ Cane snaps from wind

Poor tying or exposed positions.

❌ Root freeze in pots

Happens during harsh frost.

❌ Weak regrowth

Often due to poor pruning or overcrowding.

❌ Crown rot

Caused by waterlogged soil.

❌ Yellowing canes

Normal winter dormancy.

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🌼 Reviving Canes in Spring

From March–May:

• remove dead/damaged tips
• feed with a balanced fertiliser
• top up mulch
• check ties and supports
• prune any weak new growth

Canes grow rapidly as weather warms.

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🌸 FAQs

Are blackberries and loganberries frost hardy?

Yes — extremely hardy.

Do I need to cover canes in winter?

Usually no, unless they are young or in exposed sites.

Do they fruit on old or new wood?

New growth from last year produces fruit.

Are they OK in pots?

Yes — with protection from root freeze.

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🌼 Conclusion

Blackberry and loganberry canes are tough and winter hardy, but pruning, tying, mulching and sheltering new canes ensures the best possible crop next summer. With these simple overwintering steps, your plants will come back stronger each year.

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