In many summer cottages, gardeners grow raspberries. This healthy berry is indispensable during the cold season and is a favorite treat for children and adults. But already in the first 2–3 years, summer residents are faced with the fact that raspberry bushes grow and fill the free area, displacing other plants and shrubs.
Do not rush to give up growing aromatic berries. Folk methods have long been invented that will help prevent the unwanted dominance of raspberries in other areas of the garden plot.
Slate fencing
Slate is one of the most common materials for creating obstacles and fencing.
What you need to do:
- Several sheets of slate are placed 1 meter from the raspberries and sprinkled with soil.
- The slate is laid to a depth of 30–50 cm. In this position, the roots of the bush will feel comfortable, and the shoots will not break through the barrier.
- In order for the borders of the raspberry tree to be visible, the tops of the slate leaves are left on top.
If you don’t have slate at hand, you can use film or sheets of metal.
Green manure
This is the name of plants designed to suppress weeds and improve soil quality. Such plants will prevent the growth of raspberries, while enriching the soil with nutrients. Lupine and clover are used as green manure. Thanks to these crops, excess shoots of raspberry bushes cannot penetrate into other areas.In winter, green manure will become a cheap replacement for mulch and will protect the bushes from freezing.
You can use plants that depress the aromatic berries. These include sorrel, sea buckthorn, jasmine, and garlic. They suppress the growth of shoots.
Trimming
This method is one of the simplest. Pruning of bushes is done in early spring or late autumn. In the immediate vicinity of the mother bush, all fresh growth is removed. Then the plant itself is pruned.
It is necessary to cut off all branches that are more than two years old, as well as dried shoots of the bush. This option will not only protect the area from the growth of raspberries, but will also improve the quality characteristics of the fruit.
Nitrogen-based fertilizers
Nitrogen fertilizers stimulate the growth of green mass, negatively affecting the growth of the root system. Feeding is carried out throughout the spring months and at the beginning of autumn. This time is favorable for the development of the root system.
Do not get carried away with nitrogen-based fertilizing in the summer months. This threatens to reduce yields and deteriorate the quality of fruits.
Raspberry overgrowth is one of the most common problems for gardeners. Therefore, timely care of the plant and the use of traditional methods is the key to a neat summer cottage and a bountiful harvest.
