How To Prune Red Raspberries

There are two types of red raspberries: summer-bearing and fall-bearing. Summer-bearing raspberries produce crop only on two-year old canes. The current season’s canes are non-fruiting. Once finished fruiting, the canes die. The fall-bearing raspberries produce fruit twice a year: early in the summer, on the canes from the previous season’s growth, and then in the fall, on the tips of the current season’s growth. After the second crop, the canes die.

For both types, pruning starts with removal diseased, damaged, and weak growth early in spring.

For summer-bearing raspberries, continue thinning the hedgerow spacing the individual canes about 6 inches apart and leaving only the healthiest growth. You may also need to trim the tips of the canes to remove winter damage.

For fall-bearing, prune the tips of the canes. After the summer crop, cut the same canes to the ground level to free up room for the new season’s growth.  The young canes will produce fruit at the end of the season .