Things You'll Need:
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Step 1
Select a planting site for the bushes. Berries respond best to full sun and thrive in sandy-loamy soil that drains well. Avoid low areas and spaces where potatoes, tomatoes and peppers have been planted in the last five years to reduce the risk of root rot.
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Step 2
Test the soil to determine its overall pH. According to David T. Handley, vegetable and small fruit specialist at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, "Raspberries prefer a soil pH of 5.6 to 6.2; acid soils may require applications of ground limestone to increase the pH."
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Step 3
Supplement the soil with additional elements to enhance the nutrients the berries will absorb. David Handley suggests "sowing a cover crop such as buckwheat, rye, millet, or oats, and plowing it into the soil before it goes to seed."
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Step 4
Plant the raspberry crowns two feet apart in straight lines. As the plant grows, it will release suckers that will bond with the other plants and form a hedge.
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Step 5
Erect trellises to improve overall fruit production and reduce the risk of disease. David Handley explains, "For the trellis, sturdy posts should be set in the row with 3.5-foot-long cross arms affixed at a height of 3.5 to 4.5 feet. The posts should be set at least two feet deep in the ground and anchored at each end of the row. Secure heavy-gauge wire along the length of the row on each side of the cross arms."
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Step 6
Perform weekly maintenance as the hedges grow and mature. Berries produce fruit in their second year. Until then, make sure they receive two inches of water once each week and prune them to a hedge approximately 12 to 18 inches wide. Check for and remove weeds daily and clear any ground vegetation to reduce the risk of disease.
