When pruning raspberries causes a decrease in their yield: subtleties that everyone should know
If we talk about ordinary, non-remontant varieties of raspberries, it is worth mentioning that the shoots of this perennial bush bear fruit in the second year.
Due to the fact that large growth of shoots occurs due to root suckers, plants need to be trimmed, reminds the expert of the online publication BelNovosti, scientist-agronomist, landscape designer Anastasia Kovrizhnykh .
If this recommendation is ignored, there is a risk that the raspberry patch will become overgrown, which will result in a decrease in its yield.
But pruning should not be done thoughtlessly, otherwise the result will be the same - fewer berries.
Below you will find a short guide that will help you deal with raspberries in your garden correctly, and only increase, not decrease, the harvest.
So, the first thing you need to do is get rid of the two-year-old shoots that have already produced a harvest this season.
They will dry out soon anyway and become a “red rag” for numerous pests and pathogens.
They need to be cut at the very surface of the soil so that no stumps remain - this place is ideal for turning into a breeding ground for infections and diseases.
Your next step should be to inspect the annual shoots for quality - only healthy specimens with a thick trunk and reaching a height of about 1.5 m can remain - they are the ones that will bring you a good harvest.
All the rest, the low and weak ones, as well as those that grow beyond the beds, are worth introducing to your pruning shears.
If the height of the shoot exceeds 1.5 m, they can be left, after shortening the top by 20-30 cm.
