Should I cut back blackberry bush?

Question

I have a 3 or 4 year old blackberry bush that I’ve never pruned. Every year new growth & lots of blackberries come back on the old ‘branches’, EXCEPT this year. We had a rough winter and it’s like my bush decided to just start over and I have new growth coming up from the ground and a bunch of bare branches above it. Should I cut those old branches back? And if the answer is yes, can I do it now or should I wait ’til the end of the season?

Answer 1

Here are some pointers on blackberry pruning. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/blackberries/blackberry-pruning.htm
Of course, if you have dead branches on your bushes, you can cut them back anytime.