Trim raspberry stalks during your fall cleanup
Q When is the best time to clean out overgrown raspberry stalks — during the spring, or in the fall after the leaves have dried up and/or fallen off? Over the years we have done it in the spring, as new life appears, to see which stalks are dead, but someone recently recommended to us to have it done in the fall. We find the advice a little confusing, as it seems hard to know which stalks to remove. Also, we wish to give some shrubs to new homeowners. When is a good time to transplant raspberry shrubs, in the spring or fall?
A First thing we need to look at is whether your raspberries are summer-bearing or everbearing. Summer-bearing raspberries will give one crop around July, while everbearing varieties give two crops — the first crop in the summer and the second in the fall.
If your raspberries are summer-bearing you can cut the canes down to the ground during your fall cleanup. If they are everbearing, cut the canes down that had fruit on the lower part of the canes. Canes that had fruit closer to the top and offshoots of green growth should be left alone, as they will be the ones that fruit the following year. As for transplanting, early spring is the best time to move your raspberries.
Q We have four dwarf spruce that are about six years old, and last winter is the first time they did not winter well. Two of them have a lot of brown on the top half and are not improving. We are wondering what effect trimming them all down to a ball shape would have on them, and whether or not they would survive. What would you suggest? Also, I was given a potted hydrangea earlier this year, and when the blossoms were gone I planted it outside. It seems to be thriving, but now how do I overwinter it?
A I would certainly shape the spruce into whatever shape appeals to you. They take to pruning and shaping very well, but you just have to be patient for the plant to fill in the spaces when you cut them back. When pruning, cutting the brown branches that have healthy green branches behind them will encourage the spruce to fill out.
As for your hydrangea, if it is a florist hydrangea you will have to bring it indoors for the winter, as it will not survive the winter in the ground. If it is a hardy variety then I would cover it with dried leaves and a cardboard box (or burlap) to increase the chance of your hydrangea surviving the winter outdoors.
Canes that had fruit closer to the top and offshoots of green growth should be left alone, as they will be the ones that fruit the following year.
Q I have cedar bark mulch spread over many of my beds, but it has been a few years since I spread it around and it needs to be refreshed. I want to work the existing cedar bark mulch into the soil around my shrubs and trees, and then add a new cedar mulch as a ground cover. Would cedar cause any detrimental effects to the existing soil? I have always used other small wood chips before (poplar, willow, etc.) because they were available on the farm.
A There is some debate about the harmful effects of adding cedar chips or mulch to the soil. Some experts feel that the cedar may inhibit microbial action in the soil, while others think that the cedar may inhibit plant growth.
Personally, I would not work the cedar into the soil. I would simply add the new mulch over top of the existing mulch, as long as the total depth of the mulch does not exceed three inches (7.5 centimetres). I have been using this method for many years with good results.