How can I make raspberry jungle manageable?

rosie383

I have an area of raspberry canes (some summer and some autumn I think). They are taking over an area about 6 foot square. I don't mind this as we love raspberries, but they are quite spiky and leaning over the path. They are at the 'start' of the garden too, IYKWIM, so you would have to get past them to go anywhere in the garden.
Do I just put bamboo canes in and try to train them back a bit? I think it is the wrong time of year to dig some up and give them away. Is that right?

blossomhill_2

If you don't want to do the traditional method of wires and canes you could just put a bamboo cane in every now and then and tie six or so of the nearest raspberry canes to it, in a sort of bunch - I have done that thsi year and will get to grips with them all next year

Lorian

I always cut mine back to nearly the ground late in the year or they take over. Too late to be cutting them now. Canes might help but othewise tieing some string around them and pull them backwards is a bit easier.

randomstuff

I have mine tied in to some string running between two posts. I think I would be inclined to put 3/4 sticks in place and run string/wire around around to keep them back off the path.

valk_scot

Have you been cutting them back at all? Summer fruiting ones need the older canes cut out in the autumn, leaving only that year's growth to carry next year's fruit. Autumn fruiting rasps need completely cut down every year as the fruit is carried on the canes that grow in the spring.

That usually keeps them under control. Plus some strategically placed wires and stout supports to tie then to.

rosie383

unfortunately I didn't cut them back at all!
I just have to make the best of them this year. I will follow the above advice and see if I can get them a bit more manageable!

Sambucus_Nigra

rosie383 wrote: »

unfortunately I didn't cut them back at all!
I just have to make the best of them this year. I will follow the above advice and see if I can get them a bit more manageable!

You can still cut back any that fruited last year now. You will see them by the old fruit stalks or the flaky bark.

If you really need to tame them - just cut back half of them and tie them in. i am quite diligent with my rasps and cut back each cane as it finishes - I never tie them in and I made the decision when I bought them to only buy non-spiky ones and it's paying off in buckets now as I never get spikes when harvesting or cutting back.

valk_scot

rosie383 wrote: »

unfortunately I didn't cut them back at all!

No wonder they're a jungle then, lol! They won't like being so over crowded much either. Yes, get in there now and cut out any old canes, the ones with silvery bark. Once the summer fruit has been and gone cut out the canmes that have just fruited and leave the rest. Once the autumn ones start cropping, cut them out as each cane finishes. Then you'll hopefully have room to move a bit and perhaps put in some supports for next year.

mi_jardin

Once my autumn raspberries get too tall I tie them back to the fence with garden twine so they dont block the path, then untie one end when I want to pick berries, then tie them back up.

rosie383

Thank you so much guys. I will get the secateurs going this afternoon. So bloomin cold and wet again though! Good to know that I can at least trim them a bit.
I went out and pulled out a huge solanum which was a tiny wee twiggy thing a few years ago! Given me loads more space and I can now access all the way down the side of the raspberries now, so I can see what I'm doing. I will miss it's pretty purple flowers, but will get some seeds for bees so that they don't miss out at least!
Anyone know what is good to put in for bees that don't take up too much space and that are very cheap?

Budget_Gardener

The big problem with raspberries is that they grow a root system of runners which head in a particular direction. If you let them they'll come up through the path or in nearby beds; they'll be spreading out at the moment and it's important to try and dig out those in the wrong places or they'll be increasingly difficult to deal with. If you can turn the roots round and encourage them to re-grow in any areas they've vacated then great, but I've had problems with them effectively leaving the beds and conquering the lawn!