Pruning raspberries in autumn and spring for beginners

It is recommended to cut the raspberries 2-3 times per season: in early spring, early summer and mid-autumn. They do this to form a bush, rejuvenate it and for sanitary purposes (removal of diseased and weak branches). Periodically, you should pinch the apical shoots so that the cranberry does not grow chaotically. Then the plant will be easier to care for, and the yield will be maintained at a stable level.

Why prune the blackberry

Pruning the raspberries is a must, as the bush grows well. If not cut, 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:

1. Formation of a raspberry bush – giving the correct contours, thinning the crown to maintain an attractive appearance. Also, the procedure is carried out in order to facilitate the care and harvest.
2. Sanitary pruning of cranberries is necessary to remove branches affected by winter frosts, diseases and pests, as well as to eliminate bruised shoots.
3. Rejuvenating procedure – pruning old branches (they are easily distinguished by a gray-brown surface color) to stimulate the growth of new shoots.

Another task is to prepare the bush for winter. The raspberries are cut every October, 2-3 weeks before frost. For perennial bushes, radical pruning is also carried out, removing all old branches under the root and leaving only young green shoots. This should be done only in case of a sharp drop in yield. Pruning is carried out for the winter, so that the bush has time to recover and give new shoots in the spring.

Extra branches have to be removed for practical purposes. The raspberry bushes grow strongly, occupying paths, neighboring beds and flower beds. The crown can be thinned both in autumn and spring.

In all cases, pruning is carried out using a sharp pruner with a comfortable handle. Previously, it is desirable to treat its blades with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or other antiseptic. Work is carried out with gloves, if necessary, use a low stepladder. Safety goggles are recommended to avoid getting chips in your eyes.

Pruning raspberry prevents the shrub from growing, and also maintains a stable yield.

When to prune the raspberries, in what month

Pruning is carried out in spring, autumn and even summer. The first stage occurs at the end of March – the beginning of April, when the bush has not yet had time to start growing (the buds have not swelled, that is, before the start of sap flow). The second period lasts from the end of May to the beginning of June. The last haircut is planned for mid-October. Specific dates should be chosen based on the climatic features of the region.

Is it possible to prune the blackberry in the fall

Ezhemalin needs to be cut in the fall for the winter: it is right to do this in the first half of October, but definitely not during the frost period, when a weakened shrub can suffer. Approximate times for different areas:

• middle lane – mid-October;
• southern regions – the second decade of November;
• North-West, Ural – the first ten days of October;
• Siberia, Far East – until October 10.

The formation of the bush begins no earlier than the second season.

Do I need to prune the raspberries in the spring

In the spring, a haircut is carried out for the following purposes:

• removal of diseased branches – 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 be in time before the sap flow:

• the middle lane is the beginning of April;
• southern regions – mid-March;
• North-West, Ural – the first decade 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, long branches are shortened, a shrub is formed, leaving seven powerful shoots.

Pruning is carried out to rejuvenate the shrub. Completely remove all old shoots, even if they have yielded this year, and leave 9-10 powerful branches.

Pruning is carried out in spring, summer and autumn

Proper pruning of raspberries depending on the variety

Features of cutting shrubs depend on the variety. According to this indicator, three groups are distinguished – upright, creeping and remontant.

Upright

Erect cultivars of raspberries are distinguished by straight, strong shoots.

Examples of such varieties: Tyberry, Darrow, Medana. The main feature of pruning these varieties is that it is carried out immediately after harvest (early August). The instruction is as follows:

1. All biennial shoots that brought berries this season are completely removed. They are covered with a layer of wood (brownish). These are more bushy and heavy branches.
2. Annual shoots are left, except for damaged and diseased ones. They also need to be thinned out well so that the crown remains free, and the light penetrates to all the leaves.
3. If long shoots remain, they are shortened to 1 m. Moreover, some branches may sag a little – then they are tied to the trellis, bending the tops down.

In the spring, a new pruning is carried out.

In early April, you need to remove all dead, broken, frost-damaged branches

In the first decade of April, the side shoots are shortened, leaving 20–30 cm. Then, in May, new shoots will actively begin to appear.

Creeping varieties

Creeping varieties do not have upright shoots – they need a mandatory tie to the trellis

If not pruned, such shrubs grow strongly, interfering with neighboring plantings and protruding onto the paths. Creeping varieties include: Sylvan, Cumberland, Loganberry, Merry Berry.

A feature of pruning creeping representatives: in October, old branches are completely removed from them. If some shoots are too long, they are shortened to 2 m, and the remaining side branches – up to 30–40 cm. After that, they are tied to the trellis so that the bush takes the form of a fan. To do this, pull several ropes or wires at intervals of 20–30 cm. Young shoots are fixed on one side, and fruit-bearing branches on the other.

Fan-shaped autumn pruning is used for creeping varieties

Spring crop cutting is carried out at the end of March or the first half of April. At this time, all broken and frostbitten shoots are removed.

Repair varieties

Remontant varieties include varieties that produce two crops 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:

1. In late March – early April, they make 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.
2. In late May – early June, they begin to form a young shrub. It is necessary to leave 5-6 strong branches, and shorten the shoots of medium length by half.
3. Two-year-old branches are harvested in autumn. Pruning can be scheduled for October or carried out in August, after the second harvest.

Seasonal features

Haircut of any culture is carried out according to a specific schedule. To provide the plant with maximum comfort, you should consider the features of the season:

1. In early spring, the bush has not yet woken up, but some branches have suffered from frost. At this point, be sure to carry out a sanitary haircut. If you need to rejuvenate the plant, do it better in March or April. Then the raspberries will give new shoots this season.
2. The second stage of pruning (end of spring) involves thinning the crown, shortening branches that are too long, and removing diseased shoots (if necessary).
3. During the summer, the shrub grows well, so it is better to form a raspberry in the fall. The procedure is started immediately after harvesting or in early October, 15–20 days before frost. At this stage, all two-year-old shoots that have already given berries are completely cut off. 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 scheme of the forming pruning of the raspberries will help to carry out the procedure correctly

How to take care of a blackberry after pruning

Since the blackberry gets injured during pruning, it is necessary to provide good enough care to restore the shrub. Sprinkle wounds with crushed powder of charcoal or activated charcoal. They can also be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or covered with garden pitch 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 put a flat trellis up to 2,5 m high. Four wires or strong ropes are pulled on it at a distance of 30–40 cm. All fruit-bearing 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 figure.

The tying of the fruit-bearing branches of the blackberry to the trellis after pruning is necessary for the convenience of working with the culture

After autumn pruning, it is also recommended to pinch all the tops of the shrub to stop growth. Thanks to this, the jellyfish will have time to prepare for the cold period. For the winter, the branches are removed from the trellis and laid on a layer of spruce branches or sawdust. From above, you can sprinkle with the same material, and also use:

• dry foliage;
• straw;
• sheets of three-layer corrugated cardboard;
• black peat.

In regions with frosty winters, it is recommended to install a frame, throw a bush with dry foliage or other mulch, and pull a dense agrofiber on top. In early spring, such a shelter must be dismantled gradually, opening first one, then the other edge.

A frame for sheltering a blackberry is installed after autumn pruning

After each haircut, the culture 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;
• autumn – superphosphate, potassium salt and wood ash (nitrogen is excluded).

Conclusion

You need to trim the raspberries at least twice a season. In the spring, the procedure is carried out for sanitary purposes, at the beginning of summer – to increase productivity and stimulate the growth of new shoots. In autumn, you can begin to form a shrub. At the same time, it is necessary to prepare the plants for winter – tie them to the trellis, cover and mulch, and also apply fertilizer. The rules for autumn pruning of raspberries are described in detail in the video.