How to care for raspberries in spring: tips from experienced gardeners

Proper raspberry care is the key to healthy plant growth and a bountiful harvest. Raspberries require special care and attention in the spring, when they are most vulnerable to disease after winter and require an additional source of nutrition. According to experienced gardeners, spring raspberry care requires the following tasks: pruning, fertilizing, and pest control.

Spring pruning of raspberries

Raspberry pruning in spring is a two-step process. First, remove the shoots, which are a favorite prey for the raspberry cane midge. Identifying shoots affected by this pest is quite easy, especially in spring, when the bush has no leaves yet: swellings will be visible at the base of the shoots; a cut into these can reveal the pest's larvae.

In addition to shoots affected by pests, it is necessary to cut off those that are weak and those that are frozen.

The second stage of pruning should begin when the bush begins to grow. The upper part of the shoots should be shortened to the first good bud that survived the winter.

It's a good idea to tie up the bushes at this stage. Place a stake in the center of the bush and tie the plant's shoots to it.

Spring fertilization of raspberries

Raspberries require additional feeding, given that they are generally undemanding of soil conditions and can grow even in poor soil, so feeding is an important step in spring raspberry care. The most important and necessary fertilizers include nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus fertilizers; organic matter is also appropriate.

Experienced gardeners' advice on caring for raspberries in the spring suggests the following fertilizing scheme:

1. As soon as the snow melts, before loosening the soil, you need to add 15 grams of ammonium nitrate or 10 grams of urea at the rate of 1 square meter.
2. After loosening the soil, mulch it. Humus, peat compost, or straw manure can be used for this purpose.
3. In May, raspberries should be fertilized with mullein, diluted at a rate of 500 ml per bucket of water. Apply 5 liters of fertilizer per square meter of planting.

Tips from experienced gardeners on fertilizing raspberries with organic matter

For those who refuse to use chemicals in spring care of raspberriesExperienced gardeners have prepared several tips on adding organic matter to the soil:

• Organic matter should be added to the soil only in cool weather, preferably on a cloudy day, otherwise sunlight can cause unwanted chemical reactions;
• Do not allow fertilizers to come into contact with the leaves and stems of the plant;
• Organic fertilizer infusions should not be tightly sealed with a lid; they require good air circulation.

Important! In spring, raspberries especially need intensive watering. During flowering, the soil needs to be constantly moist. To avoid having to rush to the garden with water every time, you can use a drip irrigation system, which also saves water.

How to treat raspberries for diseases and pests in spring

In spring everything pests that are typical for raspberries, begin their active life, so this time is best suited to begin fighting them and taking preventative measures.

If you follow the advice of experienced gardeners on caring for raspberries in the spring, you can't avoid tasks such as pruning, cleaning the area, and loosening the soil. For example, most pests that attack raspberries overwinter in dead parts of the bush and in the soil. Therefore, cleaning the area and loosening the soil is not only a way to visually improve your plot but also has practical benefits.

Only after this work can you begin treating the plant for pests, using specialized products available at any gardening supply store.

Important! Raspberry bushes should be treated before the flowering phase, otherwise they may later affect the quantity and quality of the harvest.

To protect raspberries from diseases, you can use a Nitrafen solution. It helps protect raspberries from anthracnose and gray mold. Dilute 200 grams of Nitrafen solution in 10 liters of water.

If you give your raspberries proper care in the spring and don't neglect simple agricultural maintenance, they'll delight you with a bountiful harvest all season long, and caring for them during the fruiting season will be simple and time-saving.