Removing weeds from the raspberry patch

When it comes to weeding raspberries, early and often is best. If you’ve used weed-free soil and well-rotted organic matter, and laid down mulch, you shouldn’t have a big weed problem.

Properly preparing your soil is an excellent preventive measure against the emergence of weeds. When you till or cultivate the area where you’ll plant raspberries, remove weeds and debris. You’ll likely find that the first few weeks after planting are the only time you’ll be pulling up weeds in your raspberry garden. After planting and initial weeding, place mulch around the plants to further deter weeds.

Once your raspberry plants have started growing, the space in between plants will fill in—and that will smother most weeds. However, raspberry plants have runner roots and will send up suckers—new canes—in unexpected places. Unless you want to turn your entire yard into a raspberry patch, cut or mow the wayward suckers to ground level. Many people also use a spade or shovel to sever the spreading roots.

If weeds come up between your more mature raspberry plants during the season, work the soil around the base of the plants with a hoe—only deep enough to kill weeds and not damage the plant’s roots.

Do you have problems with weeds in your raspberry garden? How do you handle weeding—and preventing weeds in the first place? Please tell us how you control weeds in your raspberry garden.