How to Prepare Raspberries in the Fall for Winter: Simple Secrets of a Rich Harvest Next Season

To get a rich harvest of raspberries next year, you need to properly prepare the bushes for winter.

Experienced gardeners know that the entire future harvest depends on autumn work in the raspberry patch.

Autumn work dates

The optimal period for starting preparatory work comes after the last harvest.

It is important to have time to carry out all the necessary procedures before the onset of frost, when the air temperature remains within 5-10 degrees Celsius.

Pruning a raspberry bush

The main focus of autumn treatment is on proper pruning. Old fruit-bearing shoots are removed at the root.

Young annual branches should be shortened by a third of their length, leaving the strongest stems. The height of the remaining shoots should not exceed one and a half meters.

Soil preparation

The soil around the bushes must be thoroughly loosened. The soil cultivation depth is approximately 10–15 centimeters.

After this, the trunk circle should be mulched with organic materials. Peat, humus or compost will help create a protective layer for plant roots.

Autumn fertilizing

Fertilizing in the fall plays an important role. Phosphorus-potassium compounds help plants accumulate nutrients for a successful winter.

For each square meter of raspberry, add 40–50 grams of superphosphate and 25–30 grams of potassium sulfate.

Sanitary treatment

Disease prevention includes spraying the bushes with Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate. The treatment will protect the plants from fungal diseases.

All plant debris must be collected and destroyed to prevent the spread of pests.

Frost protection

Proper covering of raspberries is of particular importance. The stems are bent to the ground and fixed with special arches or wire fasteners.

In regions with harsh winters, additional covering with spruce branches or agrofibre is recommended.

Drainage of the site

Stagnant water is detrimental to raspberries. Before the onset of cold weather, the drainage system of the site should be checked.

Along the perimeter of the raspberry patch, drainage ditches 25-30 centimeters deep are dug to drain melt water in the spring.

Protection from rodents

Mice and other rodents can cause significant damage to the root system of plants. Repellents are placed around the raspberry patch. The tree trunks are treated with ash or tobacco dust, which repel pests.