[Sassy Lassy]

I have about 4 rows of summer raspberries on the lottie. Last year they were in one big mass which became interesting come picking time.  Early this year I "thinned" them out a bit and made paths between them.  However the biggest problem is grass all round the bases.  I'm not sure if it is couch grass but its in big clumps all over.  My plan is to leave the grass for this year, just keep it down as much as poss, then come the winter spray "round up" - now would this kill off the raspberry canes?  If so, is there anything else I could spray with?    

I also have loads of new shoots sprouting everywhere - what should I do with them, cut them off, leave them to grow - If I did leave them to grow would they fruit next year?  I am really confused.

I could take a photo and try to upload it - that would be interesting in itself!

Sassy Lassy

[jennyb]

i'm planning to dig my up in november (the new shoots i mean) according to advice i found on the web and also on here.

[gobs]

How about moving your bits and do some weeding :?:  :roll:

You need the new shoots, that's going to be your only next fruit, as old canes die and don't fruit again.

[Sassy Lassy]

I would dearly like to do some weeding, but its more like using a fork and prising up great clump fulls and I am worried about damaging the roots of the raspberries.  

 :cry:  :cry:

[Trillium]

You don't want roundup anywhere near your raspberries - you could get some spray drift. And basic weed killers tend to treat raspberries as weeds. So, you're better off slowly digging out those weeds. Wait for wet weather when the ground is soft and the weed roots will come out easily. I had huge clumps of couch everywhere in mine but 2 yrs of regular weeding after rainstorms and it's almost clear now. Just go easy with the fork and quickly push any raspberry roots back in, give extra water if necesssary. Fresh raspberries are definitely worth the bother YUMMM!

[Sassy Lassy]

Thanks Trillium, I think that is probably the best solution.  I do love Rasperries soooooooo much!!  

Sassy

[noshed]

I agree with Trillium, I had a big bed of rasberries and weeds. I dug up quite a few and made a double row which I weeded as best I could. I cut down the old growth in the autumn and tied in the new growth to some horizontal wires. After the third year of weeding and mulching they're not too weedy now and absolutely delicious for weeks in the summer. You just can't buy them as nice in the shops so it's worth the effort.
I still get the odd sucker growing miles away from my row but I just pull them up.
You can see the end of the row here: