How to Prune Raspberry Plants

Red Raspberries

• 1

  Start plants in the winter by planting canes about three feet apart. Remove all flowers the first year to allow the plant to grow a strong root system.

• 2

  Cut any dead suckers to ground level in early spring. From the second year on, cut to ground level any canes that bore fruit. These canes usually have peeling, grayish bark.

• 3

  Remove diseased or weak canes, and thin all other canes, leaving about four to five healthy canes per foot.

• 4

  Tie raspberries to a fence or stake with twine to promote air circulation.

• 5

  Prune any dead or diseased canes in the summer and pull up any canes that sprout outside of your designated rows. They will quickly take over given a chance.

Black Raspberries

• 6

  Pinch off the tips of newly planted canes to promote lateral, branching growth for next year's flowers and fruit.

• 7

  Prune canes that bore fruit to ground level in the fall.

• 8

  Thin the canes in the spring, leaving about four to five healthy canes per foot. Tie the canes to a fence or stake to promote circulation.