Proper care of raspberries in the fall: preparing for winter in stages

Although raspberries are unpretentious, they require mandatory preparation for winter. The procedures are carried out in the fall in several stages, following a number of recommendations, which allows you to keep the bushes in a healthy and well-groomed condition until the next season.

How to care for raspberries in autumn

There are two main periods when caring for raspberries in autumn: early autumn and late autumn.

The first, early period is the end of August, when the harvest ends and the growth of the plant itself slows down, gradually beginning to prepare for wintering.

The second, late period begins at the first leaf fall and continues until frost. At this time, active biological processes in the raspberry bushes are completed.

In preparation for winter, raspberries need: fertilizing, pruning fruit-bearing branches and thinning of young shoots after the final harvest, as well as preventive treatment against diseases and pests, watering if necessary and shelter depending on the region.

Autumn activities for good raspberry yields

Caring for raspberries in the fall includes several basic activities.

Trimming

It is performed on early varieties - in the first half of September, on late varieties - in mid-October.

To begin with, all green shoots are removed, because they will no longer grow before the onset of winter cold. Branches that have finished bearing fruit, usually two-year-old ones, are also removed, as well as thin, weak and pest-affected branches.

A certain number of shoots are left for the winter:

• 7-10 of the strongest healthy and powerful annual growths, shortened by a quarter;
• an additional number of branches equal to the number of cut ones;
• another 20% of the total number of shoots for “reserve”.

This method of pruning shrubs increases the yield in the following seasons and creates a reserve in case of a frosty winter with little snow.

Important. It is better to cut off fruit-bearing shoots completely, right to the root.

Often in the fall, in addition to pruning, the bushes are also completely thinned out so that the distance between them remains approximately 60 cm.

Reference. In addition to autumn pruning of raspberry shoots and branches, it is recommended to remove all leaves (strictly in the direction from bottom to top) - during the wintering period, the remaining leaf plates will rot and cover the buds of the plant too tightly.

Feeding

The soil in the raspberry garden must be dug up in the fall and fertilized at the same time. Autumn feeding helps shrubs prepare for cold weather and weather the winter favorably. In addition, the soil fertilized in the fall will provide the plants with all the substances necessary for growth and fruiting in the spring.

Whether to apply fertilizer in the fall depends on the condition of the soil on the site. Experienced gardeners recommend the following types of additives:

1. Manure Apply before digging up the raspberries, approximately 4-6 kg per 1 sq. m. m.
2. Compost - a rotted mixture of leaves, peat, bird droppings and weeds, used instead of manure.
3. Peat – fertilizing that significantly improves the structural properties of the soil.
4. Organic and mineral fertilizers Apply once every 2-3 years. Before wintering, potassium salt and superphosphates are usually added, approximately 40 g and 60 g per bush.
5. Green manure (mustard, blue lupine, vetch-oat mixture) are sown between rows of raspberries in June, and in the fall they are dug up with soil and left to rot.
6. Microelements – auxiliary additives used to strengthen and increase winter hardiness of raspberries, approximately 3 g of zinc sulfate and 5 g of manganese sulfate per 1 sq. m of soil.

An excess of fertilizers for fruit and berry bushes is harmful, as it contributes to their inhibition and reduced resistance to disease.

Watering

In early autumn, reduce the number of waterings of raspberries, gradually reducing them to a minimum until they stop completely. However, you still should not allow the soil to dry out completely, especially if there is no rain. About a bucket of water per 1 sq. m every other day is quite enough for autumn watering.

The final abundant watering is carried out until the soil freezes, shedding it well, 2-3 buckets per 1 square meter. m. The plant should not be left for the winter with a dried out root system.

Treatment

With the onset of the first frosts, raspberry bushes process 2% Bordeaux mixture in the direction from the roots to the shoots and throw snow under them if it has already fallen. This is a mandatory procedure for processing berry bushes.

In general, the following types of treatment are recommended in late autumn:

• for fungi - a solution of Bordeaux mixture;
• to combat moss and lichen - treat the soil with a weak solution of copper sulfate;
• against insects - insecticidal solutions "Fufanon", "Aktellika" or "Intavir".
• treating shrub sections with iron sulfate.

Protection from diseases and pests

Prevention of raspberry diseases is carried out in late autumn. At this time, all debris, broken branches, possible remnants of mulching or weeds, fallen leaves from under the bushes are removed and burned.Repeated preventive treatment of the plant with Bordeaux mixture is carried out, and a 5% concentration is used. Shrubs are usually treated in clear weather, so that the shoots are dry before and after the procedure.

If desired, it is possible to treat raspberry bushes with approved insecticides and special preparations against pests and diseases, for example, “Allegro”, “Aktara”.

Preparing raspberries for winter

After completing all the preparatory stages of autumn care for raspberries, they begin to place them for wintering.

Shelter, insulation

Winter shelter for raspberries is most important in the northern regions of Russia. Much depends on the variety and on the general nature of winter in a particular region.

Important. If the bushes are already covered, but the weather suddenly becomes warm, landings It is better to open it to avoid overheating.

It is recommended to cover:

• thermophilic varieties;
• in regions with very cold winters;
• in areas with no snow cover in winter, but with a fairly frosty climate;
• thornless varieties that attract rodents.

Experienced gardeners advise covering any, even frost-resistant, raspberry varieties for the winter, as this protects the bushes from strong winds and drafts.

Methods for covering raspberries

In practice, the following methods of covering berry bushes for the winter are possible:

1. Bending down bushes – the raspberry lashes are carefully tilted and bent to the ground and tied to any vertical peg or other support for fastening, so that in winter they are covered with snow.
2. Vertical garter – a holder is fixed inside the bushes, to which all the branches are attached, and then the entire bush mass is covered with agrofibre and tied with a rope.
3. Burying – a small depression of 15-20 cm is made in the ground, corresponding to the length of the raspberry stems, they are tied together and buried in the ground. This method is more suitable for low-growing varieties.

At the beginning of spring, buried bushes must be removed in time to prevent them from dying due to lack of air.

Features of caring for raspberries

There are important features of caring for berry crops, depending on age, variety and region of cultivation.

Nuances of caring for young bushes

Autumn care for raspberry seedlings is slightly different from the period of preparing adult plants. They don't require autumn trimmings, but need special attention when choosing a method of shelter for wintering. Plants that are not yet strong enough are very carefully bent and tied, trying not to damage or break them. For the winter, natural or artificial covering materials are used for immature seedlings.

Regional differences in berry care

Depending on the regions where raspberry bushes grow, different methods of covering and insulating them are used.

In cold regions, straw and cut green manure are used for mulching. Special artificial materials (geotextiles, spunbond) are often used to cover bushes in winter.

In the southern and middle zone, the usual bending of shoots is enough to prepare raspberries for the winter.

Caring for different varieties of shrubs

Autumn care for raspberries of any variety includes all the main stages without significant differences.

Conclusion

Autumn preparation of raspberry bushes for wintering involves mandatory pruning, fertilizing, sufficient watering and treatment against diseases and pests. After these procedures, the plants are covered in a suitable way and left for the winter.Proper and complete care of raspberries in the fall contributes to their preservation in the winter and increases future productivity.