Raspberry care guide: when & how to prune, fertilize and spray

When: 2–6 weeks before the last spring frost.

• zones 3–5: about Mar 29 – Apr 26
• zones 6–7: about Mar 4 – Apr 1
• zones 8–10: about Jan 14 – Feb 11

Removing spent canes and thinning the rest makes bigger berries and better airflow.

1. FALL-BEARING (one big fall crop): cut ALL canes to the ground. Simple.
2. SUMMER-BEARING: remove any dead, gray canes left from last year at ground level.
3. Thin the remaining canes to the strongest, 4–6 per foot (30 cm) of row, spaced 6 in (15 cm) apart.
4. Tip back the summer-bearing canes to about 5 ft (1.5 m), or just above the trellis.
5. Keep the row 12–18 in (30–45 cm) wide, digging out wandering suckers.

Tools: Bypass pruners, Thick gloves

When: 14–18 weeks after the last spring frost.

• zones 3–5: about Aug 16 – Sep 13
• zones 6–7: about Jul 22 – Aug 19
• zones 8–10: about Jun 3 – Jul 1

Summer-bearing canes die after fruiting. Removing them now gives space and light to next year's canes.

1. Cut every cane that just fruited (brown, with dried fruit stalks) right at the ground.
2. Leave the green new canes. They're next year's crop.

When: from 1 week before to 2 weeks after the last spring frost.

• zones 3–5: about May 3–24
• zones 6–7: about Apr 8–29
• zones 8–10: about Feb 18 – Mar 11

Feed as canes break bud to fuel fruit and new canes.

1. Spread compost and a balanced fertilizer along the row and water it in.

What to use: 🌿 Finished compost or composted manure · 🌿 Balanced organic granular fertilizer (e.g. Espoma Plant-tone 5-3-3) · Slow-release balanced fertilizer (e.g. Osmocote Smart-Release 14-14-14)

When: 2–6 weeks after the last spring frost.

• zones 3–5: about May 24 – Jun 21
• zones 6–7: about Apr 29 – May 27
• zones 8–10: about Mar 11 – Apr 8

Mulch keeps roots cool and moist, suppresses weeds and slowly feeds the soil. Applying it after the soil warms lets roots wake up first.

1. Spread 2–3 in (5–7 cm) of mulch over the root zone.
2. Keep mulch 2–3 in (5–7 cm) away from stems and trunks. Mulch piled against bark invites rot and rodents.
3. Don't go deeper than 3 in (7 cm) in total. Too much mulch suffocates roots.

What to use: 🌿 Shredded hardwood or pine bark mulch