What to do with monster blackberry bush?

[BeccaBoo]

I'm lucky enough to have a very large blackberry bush on my property, about 20'x30' and I don't believe it was ever pruned. I've been able to make jam and delight the bees at the same time for years, but it's just too big. It's impossible to get to the middle of the plant. I know it's not spring for pruning, but I want to cut it back now (in June, start of summer for me.) I don't want to hurt the plant or any of the pollinators, but I do hope there's something I can do. My thoughts were possible to cut around the plant so that I "shrink" it, or to cut through the middle so now I have "two" plants.

Does anyone have any advice or can share their experiences? Thanks!

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

@daveb any tips?

I haven't ever grown blackberries before, but we had some "wild" bushes near where I used to live. They often cut them back quite harshly and they always seemed just fine. I wouldn't know about the pollinators to be honest though. Is it actively in flower right now?

 

[daveb]

i trim only in late fall , but you can also ta and grwing tip back fotto grouns now and let them root for more canes and then in fal cut them back to prune i wold wait until they are finished in fall to prune now