What are some tips on growing and pruning raspberry bushes?

Grow raspberry bushes by planting them in a location with well-drained soil and full sun, mulching the plants and watering them regularly. Prune the plants in the fall after the last harvest.

When planting raspberry bushes, first work a generous layer of aged manure or compost into the top several inches of soil. After allowing the prepared soil to sit for a few weeks, plant the bushes, spacing them at least 3 feet apart. Immediately prune back the limbs after planting so that the bush is between 8 and 10 inches tall, and spread a layer of organic mulch around the plant to keep the soil moist. Give the raspberry bush at least 1 inch of water per week.

Regularly thin out the overgrowth of shoots to improve berry production on the remaining canes. Heavily prune the bushes once a year in the fall. For summer-bearers, bushes that produce only one crop of raspberries, trim the bushes throughout the growing season, and cut back the limbs so that only half a dozen remain. Remove any awkward or sideways-growing branches. For ever-bearers, bushes that produce two crops per year, prune them to the ground after the last harvest in the fall.