Pruning a blackberry bush.

[merlinsmate]

Sorry, I put this in the wrong place.
How do I prune a blackberry bush? The bush grows over a north facing fence to about 10 foot and is now too high. However , this year it has produced the most fruit ever, with still more to come. How can I tidy it up but still get a good crop next year?

[buildersmate]

It doesn't really matter where you shove the questions - it'll get answered if someone knows.
Don't claim to be the world's expert on this - but in the remarkable lack of other responses: -
Blackberries (like raspberries) fruit from the ends of the growth produced earlier in the same season. So you can safely prune 50% of the oldest, longest growth down to ground level after fruiting. The good cropping this year, I suggest, is down to good weather when the flowers were setting in June, coupled with the wet July to fatten the berries up. It's same around here in the hedgerows. Must get my bramble-jelly making equipment out.

[Whoever]

I have 3 blackberry plants and tend to wait until winter and then hard prune back most of the older stems to ground level. You will find that most of these stems go brown and dead anyway. . The other stems I cut back about 50%. Even in winters where I've gone overboard with a drastic pruning, they always seem to sprout again in spring and give me a good Autumn crop.

[merlinsmate]

Thanks to both of you for the great help. I feel that I understand now and know what to do. It's still fruiting well, but am looking forward to getting it pruned when it's finished, ready for next year. Cheers.