Pruning Raspberries - Why? How? When? (2020)

Raspberry bushes have to be pruned every year to maximize growth and production and limit disease and pests. There are two types of Raspberry bushes, summer-bearing and ever-bearing. Which type you have will dictate how you prune. Pruning Raspberries isn't hard and it doesn't take long. But doing it right is essential to having a healthy, producing crop every summer.

Your Raspberry bush must not be pruned in the fall. Leave it alone! Raspberry pruning is done at the end of winter, leading into spring bud break. This allows you to clear out all the old brambles properly, easily determine the Floricanes from the Primocanes, and lets you have perfect spacing to lay down that final layer of mulch before the patch becomes foliage (and thorn!) heavy.

Also, if you need some quality pruning shears for all your brambles, I recommend these guys from my Amazon Affiliate link!

[StephanieStults]

I dont know how many videos I have watched about Raspberries here on youtube and your video has been by far the best one... I finally understand the difference in the canes. Thanks Much!

[twifosp]

I'm rewatching this for the third season now. The last two years I've had more raspberries than ever! Thanks!

[jenniemchenry]

OMG my raspberries are taking over my herb garden!!! I planted one little plant in 2020 and used my husband's old horseshoe pits to make herb gardens! Now the raspberries are shooting up all over! Great video! This helped me understand so much.

[techattack]

Awesome job. Great advice not to prune in Autumn, your examples show exactly what I've got in my patch and now, after watching this, I know exactly what to do with my patch. Many thanks🙂

[theOneTheOnlyEditz]

Thank you! You are a great teacher. You are obviously very knowledgeable, but took the time to explain things on a basic level so beginners like me can understand and do it correctly right from the start. :) I'm excited I can put off my pruning til late March. :)

[insearchofspacedabs]

Amazing video, thank you! I watched so many others about pruning raspberries and your video is the best, most informative and easy to understand by a long shot. Keep up the good work! 👍

[dlschweppe]

Great video. Started with three raspberry plants from Menards last year. Thought they died over the winter. And then spring came.... I've had two harvests from them - in the spring and now this September (2023). And the raspberry canes have taken over a 4x8 foot section of the garden and infiltrated the 4x8 beds beyond their own! I came to YouTube to see what needed to be done and found your video near the top of the list. So now I know - leave the canes alone until early spring, do the pruning then, and be ready for another abundant harvest! Oh, and be sure to mulch for winter. Thanks again!

[roboutdoors]

Thanks so much for this video. I've been pruning my ever bearing raspberries wrong for 15 years. I always cut them down to knee height every fall just before ground freeze. Learn something new everyday. Thanks. Cheers 🍻

[kristaboston]

I watched this to prepare to go outside today and prune bushes in a new house I moved into. I suspect my raspberry plants thank you. My lazy side does too. Putting off to March! Woo hoo!

[ZSchrink]

I don't do a whole lot of gardening, but I do a little and this channel has been so amazing!
You have a delivery of information and actions in a very pleasant tone that doesn't make me feel dumb and is refreshing!
Thanks for the info :)

[LoraxChannel]

Glad I found your videos. You are reallly good at being comprehensive and staying on track. I've seen a lot of gardening videos, and I shared yours immediately to family who are butchering their raspberries :)

[shaysummers]

Thanks! Your demo & instructions are going to be so helpful! I understand the difference between the two types of canes now. I also really like your suggestion of staggering the heights of the floricanes!

[mxpants]

Amazing video! I read about this and watched multiple other videos, and with a patch I planted last year and will be pruning for the first time when it starts to warm up I finally feel like I will be able to tell the types of canes apart!

Reading articles left me with the impression that I was supposed to memorize what canes had previously fruited or something crazy like that! Seeing what they look like at the right stage of growth really helps.

[ForestLoresinger]

I didn't know that Gary Vaynerchuk put out gardening videos, but I'm glad I discovered them!

[travelinggirl]

This is the best video that I have seen for thoroughly explaining what the difference between the canes is. You are very good at explaining things so they are easy to understand. I feel confident to be able to go out and tackle my overgrown bed. Thank you!

[lyndagraham]

Wow I think I finally understand how to prune my new raspberry patch. Thanks a million! Very clear and comprehensive tutorial

[sacdigitaldesignweb]

Thank you for the explanations! I just bought blackberry ebony king and raspberry jewel today. Can’t wait to see their growth!

[NukesOfHazzard]

Thank you! I just planted a bunch of raspberries this summer and had no idea how to prune them. Watched many confusing videos but now understand that I have everbearing raspberries and exactly when and how to prune them. A huge thumbs up!!!

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[masterofgarden]

I learn more from you than other channel because you show the cane instead of talk talk talk...