• Pruning, weed control, mulching, and fertilizing are annual chores

  • Pruning is the most labor intensive part of the farms maintenance

  • The objective of pruning is to take off the oldest, least productive stems (basically,
    there should not be any stems left on the bush that are more than about 5 years
    old)

  • Most of the pruning is done while the plants are dormant (Nov – April)

  • It takes approximately 500 person hours each year to prune the patch (we almost
    never get finished)

  • Properly pruned bushes continue to produce for many years

  • Our oldest bushes are over 20 years old and still going strong

  • A band of sawdust mulch is applied along each row of bushes to conserve moisture,
    reduce root zone temperature fluctuations, and reduce weeds

  • Roundup is used to control weeds and grasses around the bushes
     where needed

  • Bushes are fertilized in April and June (About 2 tons total)

  • Weekly mowing of nearly 20 acres maintains the entire patch, patch perimeter,
    parking areas, and farm access roads at lawn height during picking season