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It is recommended to prune raspberries 2-3 times per season: in early spring, early summer and mid-autumn. This is done to form the bush, its rejuvenation and for sanitary purposes (removing diseased and weak branches). The apical shoots should be pinched periodically to prevent the raspberries from growing chaotically. Then it will be easier to care for the plant, and the yield will remain at a stable level.
Why trim the raspberries?
Pruning the raspberries is a must, as the bush grows well. If you do not trim, the plant may take up too much space, and old branches will interfere with the active growth of new shoots. The procedure is carried out for different purposes:
- Forming a raspberry bush - giving the correct contours, thinning the crown to maintain an attractive appearance. The procedure is also carried out in order to facilitate care and harvesting.
- Sanitary pruning of raspberries is necessary to remove branches damaged by winter frosts, diseases and pests, as well as to eliminate broken shoots.
- A rejuvenating procedure is pruning old branches (they can be easily distinguished by their gray-brown surface color) to stimulate the growth of new shoots.
Another task is preparing the bush for winter. Every October, 2-3 weeks before frost, the raspberries are trimmed. For perennial bushes, radical pruning is also carried out, removing all old branches at the root and leaving only young green shoots. This should only be done if there is a sharp drop in yield. Pruning of raspberries is carried out in the winter so that the bush has time to recover and produce new shoots in the spring.
Excess branches have to be removed for practical purposes. Ezhmarina bushes grow strongly, occupying paths, neighboring beds and flower beds. The crown can be thinned out both in autumn and spring.
In all cases, pruning is carried out using a sharp pruner with a comfortable handle. It is advisable to pre-treat its blades with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or another antiseptic. Work is carried out with gloves, and if necessary, use a low stepladder. To avoid getting wood chips in your eyes, it is recommended to use safety glasses.
Pruning raspberries prevents the bush from growing and also maintains stable yields.
When should you prune your raspberry every day, in what month?
Pruning of raspberries is carried out in spring, autumn and even summer. The first stage occurs at the end of March - beginning of April, when the bush has not yet begun to grow (the buds have not swollen, that is, before the sap begins to flow). The second period lasts from late May to early June. The last haircut is planned for mid-October.Specific dates should be selected based on the climatic characteristics of the region.
Is it possible to prune raspberries in the fall?
Ezhemalina needs to be pruned in the fall for the winter: it is correct to do this in the first half of October, but definitely not during the period of frost, when the weakened bush may suffer. Approximate timing for different areas:
- middle zone - mid-October;
- southern regions – second ten days of November;
- North-West, Urals - the first ten days of October;
- Siberia, Far East – until October 10.
The formation of the bush begins no earlier than the second season.
Is it necessary to prune raspberries in spring?
In spring, haircuts are carried out for the following purposes:
- removal of diseased branches is a sanitary measure;
- to stimulate the growth of new shoots - a rejuvenating procedure.
The first stage is planned for early spring. It is necessary to have time before the sap flow:
- middle zone - early April;
- southern regions – mid-March;
- North-West, Urals - first ten days of April;
- Siberia, Far East – April 10–20.
The second stage of pruning is planned for the end of May - the first half of June. At this moment, the long branches are shortened and the bush is formed, leaving seven powerful shoots.
Pruning is carried out to rejuvenate the bush. All old shoots are completely removed, even if they produced a harvest this year, and 9–10 powerful branches are left.
Pruning of raspberries is carried out in spring, summer and autumn
Proper pruning of raspberries depending on the variety
Features of shrub trimming depend on the variety.According to this indicator, three groups are distinguished - erect, creeping and remontant.
Erect
Erect varieties of raspberries are distinguished by straight, strong shoots
Examples of such varieties: Tayberry, Darrow, Medana. The main feature of pruning these varieties is that it is carried out immediately after harvest (early August). The instructions are as follows:
- All biennial shoots that bore berries this season are removed completely. They are covered with a layer of wood (brownish in color). These are bushier and heavier branches.
- Annual shoots are left, with the exception of damaged and diseased ones. They also need to be thinned out well so that the crown remains free and light penetrates all the leaves.
- If there are long shoots left, they are shortened to 1 m. Moreover, some branches may sag a little - then they are tied to a trellis, bending the tops downwards.
In the spring, new pruning is carried out.
At the beginning of April, you need to remove all dead, broken, frost-damaged branches.
In the first ten days of April, the side shoots are shortened, leaving 20–30 cm. Then, already in May, new shoots will begin to actively appear.
Creeping varieties
Creeping varieties do not have erect shoots - they need to be tied to a trellis
If pruning is not done, such shrubs grow greatly, interfering with neighboring plantings and protruding onto paths. Creeping varieties include: Silvan, Cumberland, Loganberry, Merry Berry.
A peculiarity of pruning creeping representatives: in October, their old branches are completely removed. If some shoots are too long, they are shortened to 2 m, and the remaining side branches to 30–40 cm. After this, they are tied to the trellis so that the bush takes the shape of a fan.To do this, several ropes or wires should be pulled at intervals of 20–30 cm. Young shoots are fixed on one side, and fruiting branches on the other.
Autumn pruning in the form of a fan is used for creeping varieties
Spring pruning of the crop is carried out at the end of March or the first half of April. At this time, remove all broken and frostbitten shoots.
Remontant varieties
Remontant varieties include varieties that produce two harvests in one season. The most common representatives: Buckingham, Marion, Red Diamond.
These varieties require special care. To ensure a second wave of flowering, pruning is carried out two or three times per season:
- At the end of March - beginning of April, they do a sanitary haircut, removing diseased, dried branches. All large branches are shortened to a small length (15 cm), leaving at least four healthy buds on each.
- At the end of May - beginning of June, they begin to form young shrubs. It is necessary to leave 5-6 strong branches, and shorten shoots of medium length by half.
- In autumn, two-year-old branches are removed. Pruning can be planned for October or carried out in August, after the second harvest.
Seasonal features
Shearing of any crop is carried out according to a certain schedule. To provide the plant with maximum comfort, the characteristics of the season should be taken into account:
- In early spring, the bush has not yet woken up, but some branches were damaged by frost. At this moment, a sanitary haircut must be carried out. If you need to rejuvenate the plant, it is better to do this in March or April. Then Ezhmalina will give new shoots this season.
- The second stage of pruning (late spring) involves thinning the crown, shortening branches that are too long, and removing diseased shoots (if necessary).
- The shrub grows well over the summer, so it is better to form a raspberry tree in the fall. The procedure begins immediately after harvest or in early October, 15–20 days before frost. At this stage, all two-year-old shoots that have already produced berries are completely pruned. Annual branches should be greatly shortened (up to 50 cm in height). Before wintering, 8–9 strong branches are left, and the rest are completely removed.
The diagram of formative pruning of raspberry will help to carry out the procedure correctly
How to care for raspberries after pruning
Since the shrub is injured during pruning, it is necessary to provide sufficiently good care to restore the shrub. You should sprinkle the wounds with crushed charcoal or activated carbon powder. They can also be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or covered with garden varnish to prevent infection.
Since the shrub grows well (up to 4–5 m in height), after autumn pruning it is necessary to tie the shoots to the trellises. The best option is to install a flat trellis up to 2.5 m high. Four wires or strong ropes are pulled over it at a distance of 30–40 cm. All fruiting shoots are tied to guides at different heights. It is best to pull the rope in the form of a snake, as shown in the picture.
Tying fruiting raspberry branches to the trellis after pruning is necessary for ease of working with the crop
After autumn pruning, it is also recommended to pinch all the tops of the bush to stop growth. Thanks to this, Ezhmalina will have time to prepare for the cold period. For the winter, the branches are removed from the trellises and laid on a layer of spruce branches or sawdust. You can sprinkle the same material on top, and also use:
- dry leaves;
- straw;
- sheets of three-layer corrugated cardboard;
- black peat
In regions with frosty winters, it is recommended to install a frame, cover the bush with dry leaves or other mulch, and stretch dense agrofibre on top. In early spring, such a shelter should be dismantled gradually, opening first one, then the other edge.
The frame for covering the raspberries is installed after autumn pruning
After each cutting, the crop needs to be fed. The choice of fertilizer depends on the season:
- spring - ammonium nitrate, urea or other nitrogen compounds;
- summer - superphosphate and potassium salt or organic matter;
- autumn - superphosphate, potassium salt and wood ash (nitrogen is excluded).
Conclusion
You need to prune the raspberries at least twice a season. In the spring, the procedure is carried out for sanitary purposes, in early summer - to increase productivity and stimulate the growth of new shoots. In autumn you can begin to form a bush. At the same moment, it is necessary to prepare the plants for winter - tie them to a trellis, cover and mulch, and also apply fertilizer. The rules for autumn pruning of raspberries are described in detail in the video.
