Raspberry growers know full well that the shrub must be regularly renewed for a good harvest. If this is not done, the berries will become smaller, and they themselves will begin to shrink. Therefore, every autumn, taking a secateurs, we remove old, sick and weak shoots.
However, the desire to help the shrub to renew itself does not always lead to the desired result. Sometimes the procedure has the opposite effect. Raspberries begin to bear fruit worse and hurt. The reason for this is errors that are made during the update. Let's break them down.
Mistake # 1
The vast majority of gardeners have mixed plantings of remontant and regular raspberries. It is difficult to disassemble the bushes by varieties, therefore, one renewal procedure is carried out for all. And this is a mistake.
Common raspberries, which yield in mid-summer, bear fruit on last year's shoots. After the update, an adult bush should have 8 to 12 branches. They should be located at a short distance from each other.
To obtain a good harvest of remontant raspberries, the bush must be cut off entirely. Only in this case will the berries be large and retain all varietal characteristics. The culture will bear fruit once a year. If you want to harvest the crop twice a season, after renewal, you must leave 3-4 young branches. True, in this case there will be fewer berries.
By renewing mixed plantings without separation, we lose a significant part of the crop.
Mistake # 2
By starting to trim shrubs from the outer branches, many gardeners remove good shoots that are well spaced from each other. Having reached the center, it turns out that the remaining young and strong branches are too thickened. Such actions not only reduce yields, but also harm the entire crop.
When starting pruning, you should inspect the entire bush and determine in advance the shoots that will be removed. This is done so that the remaining branches do not intertwine and are at a sufficient distance from each other.
Mistake # 3
Completing the summer season at the end of September, some gardeners start pruning raspberries too early. This leads to premature growth, which is further interrupted by frost. Such actions harm the crop, significantly reducing yields.
It is necessary to prune raspberries at the end of October - the first half of November, when no more than 20 days remain before the onset of frost. By this time, the leaves will have fallen off and it will be easier for you to select the shoots for removal.
Mistake # 4
When pruning raspberries, few people pay attention to the direction of growth of the remaining shoots. All attention goes to quality assessment. And this is also a mistake. If in the future the branches touch each other or intertwine, their protective layer will quickly be erased. As a result, the shrub will start to hurt and will not be able to resist pests.
Always consider the direction of growth of young shoots. Location plays an important role not only in terms of fruiting, but also in terms of the development of the entire culture.
Mistake # 5
Too close to branches, plant debris, supports and other obstacles make it difficult to grab the shoot close enough to the ground and cut it with one movement of the pruner. As a result, hemp, torn and cut parts remain. Gradually decaying, they become a haven for pests and diseases.
Never leave hemp and damaged trimmings. If you didn't manage to do it well the first time, pick up from the other side and finish the job.
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