Raspberry season is just around the corner, and if you want a juicy, bountiful harvest, early spring prep is key! Whether you’re growing red, black, purple, or yellow raspberries, here are the top 5 essential tasks to give your plants the best head start.

1. Prune Out the Old Canes

Remove the spent canes that fruited last year. These old, brown canes won’t fruit again and only crowd the plant. Use clean, sharp pruners and cut them at the base. Leave behind healthy new canes (called primocanes for summer-bearing or floricanes for everbearing).

2. Thin and Train the Canes

After pruning, thin the canes so you leave about 4–6 of the healthiest per foot of row. Space them out to encourage airflow and reduce disease risk. Tie them gently to a trellis or support system to keep them upright.

3. Feed Them Right

Apply a balanced fertilizer or compost rich in nitrogen early in the season to stimulate strong growth. Organic growers can use well-rotted manure or a slow-release organic fertilizer. A well-fed raspberry plant is a productive raspberry plant!

4. Mulch to Retain Moisture

Add a thick 2–4″ layer of mulch around your raspberry plants. Straw, wood chips, or pine needles work well. Mulching helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and stabilize soil temperature.

5. Inspect and Spray

Check for overwintering pests or fungal spores. A dormant oil spray can help control pests, and a copper fungicide can reduce early-season fungal problems. Make sure to spray when the plants are still dormant or just waking up.

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