Raspberry Weed Control

Hand Pulling

• Weeds pose the greatest threat to newly established canes, as these haven't filled out enough to shade out and suppress weed growth on their own. Pull weeds by hand from around the base of the raspberries. Weed regularly, at least once a week, so the weeds can't establish their long, difficult-to-remove taproots. Established raspberries require moderate hand-weeding to remove any weeds that grow too closely to the raspberry plants for mechanical cultivation control methods.

Mechanical Cultivation

• Tilling and hoeing helps control weeds between the raspberry rows. Leave the rows wide enough to maneuver a power tiller. The tiller breaks up the surface soil so weeds can't form extensive enough roots to establish. Avoid tilling too closely to the raspberries, as the cultivation can damage the surface roots of the canes. Hoeing provides a more labor-intensive method of achieving the same results. Unlike power tillers, you can use hoes and other hand tools between the plants and close to raspberry stems.

Mulching

• Mulching provides the lowest-effort means of successful weed control around raspberry canes. Use mulch only over well-drained soil, as the mulch retains moisture in the soil that can cause water damage to the raspberry roots if the conditions become soggy. Straw, wood chips and grass clippings provide suitable mulch materials. Spread the mulch 2 to 3 inches deep, leaving a small space between the mulch and the base of the canes. The mulch suppresses most weed seeds so they cannot germinate or establish successfully.

Chemical Control

• Herbicides control weeds successfully, but you must exercise caution so they don't harm the raspberry planting. A broad-spectrum or glyphosate herbicide kills all plants in the application area. Use these chemicals two to four weeks before planting new raspberry bushes to clear the area of most weeds. In established raspberry gardens, use pre-emergent herbicides to prevent weeds from germinating in spring and early summer. Grass herbicides are available for use in the summer months. Always follow application instructions and cautions on the herbicide label, and avoid applying herbicides directly to the raspberry plants.