How Can You Save Your Raspberry Bush?

Water the raspberries thoroughly with at least 6 to 8 inches of water to see if they are dying because of dehydration. If the soil is well-draining, cover the soil with 2 inches of an organic mulch such as straw or sawdust.

Fertilize the soil by mixing a 10-10-10 fertilizer in at a rate of 2 lbs. for every 100-foot row. Use organic fertilizer when possible. Take a soil test to a lab to see if the soil is lacking in any nutrients and make amendments where necessary. Maintain the nutrients by fertilizing every year in March and again in May

Prune the raspberries in early spring by cutting them to a height of 4 to 5 feet. Remove any weak, broken or diseased canes. Prune again in the fall to maintain the shape.

Determine if the soil is draining sufficiently. Raspberries are hardy, forgiving plants but they cannot be waterlogged. If the soil continuously looks damp, you see water sitting on the soil or the roots are rotting, dig up the plant and mix sand or perlite into the soil to increase drainage. Elevating the bed or sloping it will also help water runoff.

Examine the plant for signs of insects. The Japanese beetle, cane borers and raspberry fruitworms are common pests of the raspberry bush. These insects will be visible on the plant or have chewed holes in the canes and leaves. Remove damaged branches and leaves and burn the clippings to kill any larvae. Apply a pesticide, such as permethrin or carbaryl, to kill the insects.

Inspect the plant for signs of disease or fungus. Lightening or darkening of the canes are a sign of several diseases. Verticillium wilt, mosaic virus, orange rust and cane blight are a few problems that plague raspberry bushes. Prune the bushes severely to remove all signs of disease and burn the clippings. Apply a fungicide if appropriate.