Raspberry plants are a common choice for colder climates because they tolerate cold winters. Most raspberries do not need special winter protection, but extra shelter might be necessary for areas with very harsh winter weather. Once your berries are harvested and your raspberry plants are pruned you should be left with bare, woody canes. If you live in a moderate climate you can leave your canes as they are. However, if your winters are severe or your area is home to a lot of rabbits, you can add insulation and wire to keep the ice and critters away.
Instructions
1. Slowly bend each cane towards the ground to form low arches, being careful not to snap the canes. Shovel dirt on top of the cane to keep it bent towards the ground. The arches will catch snow throughout the winter, and the snow and dirt will keep your raspberries insulated.
2. Create a chicken wire fence around your raspberries to keep rabbits away. Rabbits chew on raspberry canes in the winter, which prevents them from producing fruit the next summer. Push the wire a few inches into the ground around your plants and secure the ends with twist ties to close the fence. You can either create one large fence, or several smaller fences depending on the spacing of your raspberries.
3. Remove the chicken wire and uncover your raspberries in the early spring, after the last frost. Be sure to uncover the canes before the weather warms up, or new leaves will be covered with dirt and hidden from the sunlight. Brush the dirt away and allow the canes to stand upright again (it may take several days for the canes to straighten out).
