The purpose of raspberry pruning and its features

Raspberry

Practicing proper pruning techniques will help you trim raspberries without damaging the bush. This procedure should be performed correctly several times a year. The goal is to remove weak shoots, dried or frozen buds, and reduce bushiness. This technique helps increase the berry harvest this year and prepare raspberries for the next.

Thinning at the beginning of the season

Trimming fruit and berry bushes Three times per season will be required. The first is carried out in April or May, depending on the regional climate.

It consists of:

removal of weak shoots;
frozen, broken branches.

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Raspberries tied up for the winter should be untied and straightened. Any dead canes should be pruned. This will reduce the risk of disease. If the raspberries are planted as bushes, leave 5-7 canes for further growth; if planted in rows, leave 14-16 canes per meter. Prune the top of the plant to the first good bud, but no more than 20 cm. The canes should be tied to a support. This procedure is performed on canes that are two years old. Young shoots that will bear fruit the following year should be shortened by 10-12 cm.

The second pruning is done in June. Young shoots that have reached a height of 80-90 cm should be pinched back. This will allow them to grow and gain strength before winter. Inspect the plant again and remove dead wood at the root with pruning shears. Carefully dig out dry stumps that do not have fruiting branches. Remove young shoots surrounding the bushes, as they interfere with the development of the main branches. Re-tie the plant.

Note!

After June, pruning is not necessary, as the bush’s yield may decrease.

Preparing for winter

The third pruning is done in the fall, most often in September. In southern regions, it occurs in early October. After harvesting, fruit-bearing branches are removed. They are trimmed to the ground. This procedure thins the bushes and improves air and light exchange. The bushes should be removed from their supports, bent, and tied to the ground. In this condition, snow-covered raspberries will not perish in severe frosts.

Fall pruning also involves cutting back undergrowth around the bushes. Add mineral fertilizer or well-rotted manure and dig the soil. Use a shovel carefully to avoid damaging the roots of young plants. Weeds should be removed, discarded, or burned. This preventative measure will protect the raspberries from diseases and harmful insects whose larvae are found in the soil.