How to care for raspberry bushes in autumn

You need to care for raspberry bushes properly if you want to have a great harvest next year. Raspberries are biennial plants and while some gardeners leave raspberry care until spring, others focus on autumn care and they are right. There are several tasks you should do in the fall to improve your next harvest.

Remove old wood

A good idea is to cut off old wood at the end of season. We refer to branches that were producing raspberries this year. Cut them above the ground level. You may do this in early spring too, but autumn is considered better time because you can easily tell the difference between old and new wood. You can notice the difference when colder weather arrives. Old wood is brown and young wood is still green. In mid-winter, it is harder to tell old and young wood apart.

Photo: Pixabay

Remove diseased branches

It should go without saying. You need to remove any branches that are diseased or growing inwards or are directed at places where you do not want them. Raspberry bushes grow and spread far. If a branch looks “out of shape” and have rusty wood or leaves, cut it off. Do not put diseased branches in a compost bin. You do not want to spread the disease. Throw it in the trash or burn it.

Tie branches together

Another good idea is to tie individual branches together so that they form a bunch. This way they remain strong and will not fall to the ground where you may break them. The compact shape also helps the plant to survive difficult weather conditions, such as autumn rain, snow and winds. You may even tie the bush to a support or a stake.

Raspberry and mulching

Most raspberry varieties are fully frost-resistant but aa layer of mulch is always good. This will suppress weed from growing. It is not that important, but mulch will keep moisture in the ground and you want that.

Source:

https://www.bcliving.ca/raspberry-bush-fall-care

https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/fruitarticles/raspberries/raspberries-care.php

Preview photo: Pixabay