Pruning promotes fruit production.
Pruning a raspberry bush promotes new cane growth for a potential increase in berry production the following year. Cutting back and removing canes helps control disease and lowers the risk of spreading problems to other canes. Raspberries produce fruit on 2-year-old canes, making it important to promote new growth for future berry production. The three varieties of raspberries have different pruning requirements based on the fruit production characteristics.
Instructions
Summer Berry Varieties
1. Prune the canes to 6 inches tall after planting to promote strong growth during establishment.
2. Cut back summer varieties in early spring by removing damaged and weak canes at ground level.
3. Shorten tall canes to a height of 5 feet or shorter by removing the ends. Clip off winter-damaged ends on shorter canes.
4. Prune berry-producing canes at ground level after the fall harvest. This promotes new cane growth for berry production the following year.
5. Prune off canes that appear damaged, diseased or dead during late winter, before they begin to grow in spring.
Everbearing Varieties
6. Prune raspberry canes to a height of 6 inches immediately after planting in the garden. Removing excess cane promotes new growth and a strong plant.
7. Cut back everbearing varieties in early spring by removing weak and damaged canes at ground level. This stimulates new growth for a berry harvest in early summer and late summer.
8. Monitor the plants during the growing season, and prune out any canes that appear damaged or diseased. Repeat this pruning in late winter, before the canes sprout in spring.
9. Cut back everbearing raspberries in spring by removing all canes at ground level if you want one large harvest in late summer.
Black/Purple Varieties
10. Remove lateral branches from the plants in early spring to promote new branch growth for fruit production.
11. Clip 3 inches from the ends of new cane growth in July to stimulate new branches off the main stem.
12. Prune all fruiting canes after harvest by removing them at ground level to promote new growth for fruit production the following year.
13. Remove any canes that appear damaged, diseased or dead during the late winter dormant season. Complete this pruning before the canes begin to grow in spring.
