I've inherited some raspberry canes along my backyard fence, but each year, I'm seeing fewer and fewer fruits. There's even a 15ft patch where hardly any raspberries grow anymore because grass is taking over, despite my efforts to pull it out. They also don't seem to spread much from the garden area—I thought raspberries were known for that! Can anyone share tips on how to encourage better growth this spring? Here are some details that might help: 1) They're planted on the west side next to a chainlink fence. 2) There's a tree nearby, and I've been raking up the leaves, but I'm not sure if that's helping or just letting weeds take over. 3) I do my own compost—should I be using that on the raspberry beds? This whole situation is confusing since I remember having to regularly manage raspberry growth when I was younger!
3 Answers
I want to know your secrets! How do you get your raspberries to thrive like that?
First off, the chainlink fence isn't likely a problem. Check your soil—how's the moisture? Are you cutting the canes back in fall? Personally, I always rake up leaves near my food plants to keep things tidy.
The soil's usually pretty dry there. I do water daily when it doesn't rain, but I don't cut back in fall—only in spring when I remove old canes.
You need to cover the basics: sun, water, and nutrients! If they're by a tree, they might not be getting enough sunlight. For water, leave those fallen leaves as mulch; it helps retain moisture. As for nutrients, adding some compost could really boost them! I use worm compost yearly and my plants thrive!
The tree's on the north side, so they shouldn’t be too shaded, but I worried they’re in too much sun. The ones between two trees seem healthier. I'll definitely use my compost!
It's all about balance! Make sure they have enough nutrients and moisture, and you'll see them flourish.