Pruning Raspberries - Note for Next Year

Someday I hope to learn this art. I never prune enough and end up with overcrowding...

canes that die at the top...

but a pretty nice harvest, nevertheless.

And an opportunity to go Japanese Beetle hunting. (Knock 'em into a container of soapy water - it won't completely solve the problem, but it helps.)

Next year, follow the advice of Fine Gardening (https://www.finegardening.com/article/pruning-red-raspberries):

1. Prune the spent floricanes in late winter/early spring (not late fall because the dying canes send nutrients into the crown and roots that support them over winter).

2. Prune any new canes that are growing outside of the row perimeter. Ideal rows are only 1.5' - 2' wide.

3. Cut out weaker looking canes and keep pruning until there are 3-5 canes per linear foot. "This should look drastically thin to you," says Fine Gardening.

4. In early spring (May-ish) add composted manure.