Does a Creeping Raspberry Choke Other Plants?

Spreading Habit

• Other plants may not survive where creeping raspberry persists, such as on a sunny hillside with poor soil moisture content. Although it rarely rises more than 6 inches off the ground, creeping raspberry spreads to more than 30 feet wide when the soil has ample organic matter, such as compost. Growing stems and foliage stretch horizontally and drop to the ground. Tiny roots develop at these points and form plantlets. Creeping raspberry continues to spread as it anchors itself in the soil to reduce erosion and adds summer color with white blossoms.

Spacing

• Plant creeping raspberry with a 6-foot spacing so that the plants can fill in the bare soil naturally. Choose a full-sunlight location, and till your soil to maintain a friable texture for ample root spread. Naturalize bulbs into the landscape so that they rise among the ground cover's leaves in the spring and summer. Nearby trees and bushes are not choked out by creeping raspberry. In fact, they become contrasting points as creeping raspberry snakes around them.

Maintenance

• Although creeping raspberry is harmonious with most garden plants, it can easily turn into a messy landscape if neglected. For example, stems and foliage spread across stepping stones or dangle heavily over hanging pots. Prune your creeping raspberry periodically to remove excessive growth. You can transplant the cuttings into another garden area to spread creeping raspberry further or simply compost them. Do not remove too many stems, however, because you want a dense ground cover to reduce weeds. Although creeping raspberry does not stop all plants from germinating in their environment, weed seeds and seedlings have a difficult time accessing sunlight in a properly maintained garden.

Weed Reduction

• A newly planted creeping raspberry garden takes about two years to fully establish itself. While it spreads, you may see weeds pop up periodically. Instead of resorting to chemical control, simply pull the weeds as they appear, to preserve your creeping raspberry's appearance. If you still have bare soil between plants, spread organic mulch across the ground to control weeds further as creeping raspberry slowly fills in the landscape.