Caneberry Winter Pruning

— Written by Karen Blaedow | January 25, 2021

Winter Pruning

All blackberries and raspberries must be pruned and trained. Annual pruning helps keep the plants manageable, healthy, and productive. Below is a quick checklist of winter pruning tasks for caneberries.

Make trellis repairs after plants have defoliated but before pruning and training.
Pruning Erect Types
- Prune out the spent floricanes
- Tie canes to wires in a fan shape
- Cut lateral branches back 8-12"
- Thin canes to 6-8 canes/hill (4ft spacing)
Pruning Trailing Types
- Prune out the spent floricanes
- Tie or weave canes to wire so that they do not overlap
- Prune side laterals to 12-18"
- Thin canes to 6-8 canes/hill (6-8 ft spacing)
Pruning Primocane Fruiting Raspberries and Blackberries (Single-Crop System)
- Prune (mow) primocane fruiting types to ground level

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Written By

Karen Blaedow Extension Agent, Agriculture - Vegetable and Small Fruit

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