How to Protect Raspberry Bushes
Raspberries, or Rubus idaeus, are fruit-bearing plants that belong to the rose family. Each of the three main species of the plant, European red, American red and American black raspberry are hardy but need protection. Cold weather, common diseases and pests may harm or kill your raspberry bushes. Take a proactive stance and protect the plants so you may enjoy their cap-shaped fruit longer.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Pinking shears
- Lawn mower
- Plant fungicide
- Beetle traps
- Dark corn syrup
- Water
- Large pail
- Yeast cake
- Metal coffee cans
- Shovel
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Leaf Rust and Mold
-
1
Cut away old canes or stems from the plant in the fall with pinking shears.
-
2
Chop the dead canes up using a mower and add them to the flowerbed for an organic covering.
-
3
Spray the raspberry plants with plant fungicide during the rainy season.
Pest Protection
-
1
Position a beetle trap 50 feet away from the plants. Put out traps in late summer when the beetles are the most active.
-
2
Remove ripe fruit promptly from plants to avoid an invasion of sap beetles.
-
3
Mix 3 quarts of dark corn syrup with 2 quarters of water in a large pail. Add 1 yeast cake to the bucket.
-
4
Pour the mixture in to large metal coffee cans and place them outside the planting area.
Winter Cold
-
1
Fold the raspberry canes down without breaking them. Place a shovel full of soil on the tips of the canes. Do this when the daytime temperature is predicted to stay below freezing.
-
2
Furrow around each row with a shovel, covering the canes with the dirt.
-
3
Lift the canes from the soil in April and place the soil back into the furrows.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Water your plants thoroughly before the first good freeze.
Raised plant beds protect raspberries fungal root infections.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
