Is it possible to plant raspberries under trees: a mistake or a well-thought-out solution
Trees in the garden serve not only as a decorative element, but also as a strategic place for planting new plants.
It seems logical to use the empty space under their crowns.
And raspberries, with their ability to grow even in shaded areas, often become a candidate for planting.
However, it’s not that simple: planting under trees has its pros and cons.
Advantages of planting raspberries under trees:
- the shade protects the bushes from overheating;
- saving space in the garden;
- The soil under trees is often rich in organic matter.
Gardeners often choose this option if other areas are already occupied. It is easier to maintain moisture in the soil under trees, especially in the hot months.
Raspberries can face serious problems:
1. Nutrients. Tree roots take most of the nutrients, and the raspberry bushes are left with only what they can get.
2. Lighting. Even the most shade-tolerant raspberry varieties need several hours of direct sun.
3. Competition for moisture. Water quickly goes deep into the powerful roots of trees, leaving raspberry bushes on dry rations.
If you don't take steps to address these issues, your raspberry bushes may not live up to expectations.
Not every tree will be a good neighbor for raspberries. Raspberries can coexist relatively peacefully with apple and pear trees: their roots are located deeper, and the top layer of soil remains accessible.
Cherries are another matter. They quickly deplete the soil around them, leaving their neighbors starving. Conifers are also not the best friends of raspberries: their litter acidifies the soil, which raspberries do not like.
If you decide to plant raspberries under trees, you will need some preparation:
- regular watering to maintain moisture;
- fertilizing with organic fertilizers;
- creating a mulch layer from compost or straw.
It is also important to ensure that the bushes are not overgrown with weeds. In the shade, the fight against them becomes especially important, because the competition for light in such conditions is extremely intense.
