Those who believe that in the dense raspberry thickets of berries ripen more than on cropped single bushes, they are extremely mistaken. If we compare the overgrown bush and pruned, it will immediately be noticeable that the fruits ripen much worse among the abundant foliage, and the taste qualities are definitely better with those berries that grew on cropped single bushes.
So the fact that pruning raspberries is useful is undeniable.
Why do raspberry pruning
Usually raspberry fruit buds begin to appear on the branches of the second year of life. Although there are special remontant varieties that can produce a good harvest during the first year. But the renewal of shoots requires both varieties, since, starting from the second year of growth, the shoots may get sick and lose their former ability to set fruit.
Among other things, if you do not carry out the correct pruning of the bush, in the spring, up to twenty seedlings can form on it, which only create density, but do not bear the benefits of berry formation. Moreover, an overabundance of excess branches causes a decrease in the quantity and quality of the crop, as the bush spends its energy on the growth and development of barren shoots. Over time, pests can appear in such thickets, and diseases can spread. 
Did you know? Raspberry flower tilted down. Due to this, the bee, which extracts nectar, works as if under a canopy, which means it can do this even during light summer rain. Bees, collecting nectar, are able to increase the productivity of raspberries on 60-100%.
When to prune
Raspberry Crop - This is a whole set of manipulations. It is necessary to cut dead branches, also remove damaged and dry shoots, chop trunks and cut off root shoots. Shoots should be shortened, and also to carry out binding or bending down to the ground raspberries.
Pruning is recommended three times a year:
- In the spring. It is best to remove unnecessary branches at the end of March or in the first days of April.
- Summer. The procedure is carried out after the entire crop of berries has been harvested. The period depends on the raspberry variety.
- In the fall. It is best to prepare the bushes for winter at the end of September or in October. The main thing is that before the onset of cold weather remains at least 2-3 weeks.
We will understand the pruning procedure in more detail, so that when a novice gardener needs to trim the raspberries, he knows all the details of this process.Features of cropping depending on the time of year
Raspberries are cut not only in spring, but also in summer. And in the fall, thus preparing the bush for the winter.
In the spring
Spring raspberries are pruned around March or April. At this time, should be carried out the so-called normalization of shoots.
- To do this, carefully climb the branches and cut off those that were broken or frozen to death. Of those that remained, you need to choose 15-18 of the strongest, and cut off all unnecessary at the base.
- The tops that froze in winter also need to be trimmed, shortening them in this way to a healthy kidney. After this, the shoots are tied to the trellis.
- Then you need to pay attention to the growing young shoots. Those that are located far from the middle of the landing, you need to immediately cut down.
- When young shoots reach 25-30 cm in height, it will be necessary to choose about 40 (not more) shoots per linear meter of the row, and cut off all the rest.
Summer
Summer pruning is carried out almost immediately after the harvest.
- All branches that otplodonosili, you must cut to the base, while not leaving hemp. They do not need a bush, so it makes no sense to leave them until the autumn and even more so until spring, because they will only impede the growth of young shoots and shade them.
- In order to obtain a rich and high-quality crop, it is necessary to limit the expansion of the raspberry bush all the time. If you ensure this, fruitful branches, located in the center of the bush or belt planting, will develop well.
- Approximately 2-3 times a month you need to cut off all the shoots that are shown out of the ground at a distance of more than 20 cm from the center of landing. If such manipulations are carried out regularly, they will not take much time.
Important! Young shoots that have not yet had time to take root should not be pulled out or dug up. It is enough just to cut its underground part by sticking a shovel nearby, and it will dry out on the spot itself.
In the autumn
Pruning raspberries in the fall should be done about 2 or 3 weeks before the cold weather comes. First you need to carefully examine all the bushes to determine which branches should be removed and which can be left until next year.
In the fall, be sure to cut:
- old shoots that have already sprouted;
- diseased branches and those that have been attacked by pests;
- young shoots that the winter cold obviously will not survive;
- broken shoots and those that develop poorly;
- useless branches that only thicken a raspberry bush.
Important! Cut shoots need as close as possible to the ground, not even leaving hemp.The distance between the bushes should be about 60 cm, not less. If the bush has grown strongly, then the extra shoots need to be cut down with a shovel. This is how each of the bushes is processed.
Due to the fact that the raspberry after the autumn pruning grows quite quickly, you should leave no more than 10 shoots per linear meter of the plot. In the fall, by the way, you need to cut and remontnuyu raspberries. Cut branches must be removed from the site and burned. 
If you do not cut the raspberries every year in spring, summer and autumn, then in a short time the raspberries will look like impassable jungle. In this case, the fruit will be very small, and the berries themselves will be small and tasteless.
Double pruning of raspberries according to Sobolev
The method of pruning raspberries according to Sobolev today is very relevant and popular. Its essence lies in the designation of the correct timing of cutting branches and careful control of planting density.
First pruning should be carried out when the tops of the branches of the same age reach a height of 70-100 cm. Usually this happens in late May or early June. Escape must be cut to 10 cm or 15 cm, thereby provoking the growth of side branches. Within a few days, the buds in the deciduous sinuses become more active and by the end of the summer they will grow to 50 cm in length. It is on these shoots next season that sweet berries will grow, so it is very important to not be late with the first pruning so that the shoots will not die before winter.
Among the many varieties of raspberries, special attention should be paid to Heracles, Caramel, Hussar, Yellow Giant, Tarusa, Cumberland, Atlant, Polka.Crucial second trimwhich is held in the late spring of next year. Shrubs will be covered with leaves during this period. It should be removed from the lateral shoots of the top up to 15 cm. Such a technique will push the numerous buds to development, and until fruiting the bush will be covered with many small branches with ovaries.
If the double pruning of raspberries according to Sobolev is carried out correctly, this will allow:- extend the fruiting period of standard raspberry varieties by analogy with remontant varieties;
- increase the number of flower buds, which are formed on the raspberry bush;
- Increase yields, which gives raspberry in the period from July to September.
Did you know? Raspberry berries improve the complexion, so they are highly recommended to be used by the fair sex. And raspberries can get rid of hangover, as it contains fruit acids.
Useful tips
Summing up, it is necessary to highlight a number of the most important points that you definitely need to pay attention to when cutting raspberry bushes.
- The branches that are cut off must be immediately removed from the site and burned, since there may be many dangerous harmful individuals on them.
- In order not to allow the raspberry jam to thicken, which can provoke its wildness, you need to follow the rule: how many old shoots were cut - so many new branches were left.
- In order for the fruits to be large and sweet, they must receive a lot of sunlight, as well as good ventilation of the air. So, the wider the shoots will be, the better for the plant.
Raspberries are a wonderful fruit crop that can give a bountiful and tasty harvest to its owner. You only need to care for her, not allowing excessive thickening.
