How to Prune Raspberry Bushes for a Bigger Harvest Next Year
Pruning raspberry bushes at the right time can make a big difference to next year’s harvest. Different varieties need different care—summer-fruiting and autumn-fruiting types follow separate rules. A few simple steps in autumn help keep plants healthy and productive.
Summer-fruiting raspberries, also called floricanes, grow fruit on one-year-old canes. After harvesting, these canes naturally die back in autumn. To encourage new growth, gardeners should remove the older, spent canes and leave only five to seven strong, green, flexible ones. These will bear fruit the following year.
Proper autumn pruning boosts raspberry yields and plant health. Summer-fruiting varieties need selective thinning, while everbearing types benefit from a full cutback. Removing and destroying diseased material also reduces the risk of future problems in the garden.
