Cutting back raspberry bushes

[Jo M]

When should I cut back my raspberry bushes, now or in the spring? I live in Zone 5.

Jo

[Pat Kiewicz]

I usually wait until spring. I could remove all the old canes which fruited in the summer right now but I'd rather wait until spring to thin the new canes so I can see which ones are strongest and healthiest, and so I leave the old canes until spring to do it all at once.

If you don't want a summer crop from a fall bearing variety (like Heritage or Polana) you can mow them all down any time after the foliage has turned color and fallen.

[Ben Sharvy]

Canes that fruited should be pruned at the end of each season, leaving one-year old canes that will fruit most vigorously next season.