Do I Need to Prune My Raspberries?

Advantages of Pruning

• In addition to producing more berries, regularly pruning raspberries also increases the berry size and helps to control diseases, according to Iowa State University.

When to Prune

• Raspberries are either summer-bearing or ever-bearing and are pruned according to their type and cultivar. Prune summer red raspberries in the spring and again immediately after harvest. Prune ever-bearing red raspberries once in early spring to produce one crop in early to mid-August, or if pruned twice, the plant will produce fruit in the spring and the fall. Prune black and purple raspberries three times a year, spring, summer and after fruiting. Prune yellow raspberries, which only differ in the color of fruit produced, at the same time as their red and ever-bearing counterparts.

What to Prune

• Study the structure of raspberry plants before attempting to prune the plant. Raspberries have two types of canes, primocanes and floricanes. Primocanes are first-year canes, which do not produce any fruit and floricanes are second-year fruiting canes. Both canes are present at the same time. Prune the cane tips of summer-bearing and fall-bearing red raspberries that did not survive winter injury. To prune ever-bearing raspberries, cut back canes to the ground in March or early April. Prune yellow raspberries in the same manner as their red and ever-bearing counterparts.

Tools

• Hand shears and lopping shears are the best tools for pruning raspberries. Keep tools properly sharpened and clean after use after cutting diseased or decayed canes to prevent contaminating other specimens.