Raspberry Pruning Made Simple: Know Your Type

Raspberry care hinges on whether you have erect (fall-bearing) or trailing (summer-bearing) varieties. Erect types like 'Heritage' and 'Redwing' fruit on first-year canes in fall. Simply mow all canes to the ground in winter; new canes grow next spring and fruit that fall.

Trailing types like 'Dormanred' fruit in summer on second-year canes. After harvest, those canes die. Prune out dead brown canes now. Leave green canes on the ground until February, then tie them to the trellis. After next summer's harvest, cut all fruited canes off the trellis, leaving new canes on the ground until the following February.

Identify your variety first—then follow the matching regimen.