How to Build a Trellis for Raspberries

Overview

Raspberries from the garden supply you with a summer full of berries. Raspberries do best when trained to grow up a trellis. This allows for good air circulation around the raspberry canes. A trellis also keeps the foliage and berries dry, preventing most plant diseases that attack raspberries. Trellising raspberry bushes allow you to pick berries from either side.

Step 1

Drive 8-foot 2-by-4s in the soil at the end of each row. Make sure that the posts are buried at least 1 to 2 feet in the ground.

Step 2

Place 6-foot 2-by-2s every 15 feet along the row. The ends of these supports need to be buried at least 1 foot deep in the ground.

Step 3

Wrap a heavy-duty wire around the end post 20 inches from the ground. Twist the end around the long wire to secure it. Wrap the wire around each of the middle supports and secure to the end post at the other end of the row.

Step 4

Repeat step 3 at 40- and 60-inch heights. You should have a trellis with two heavy-duty boards at the ends of the row with supports throughout the row. There should be three wires, equally spaced, to support the raspberry canes as they grow.

Step 5

Dig a trench directly under the wire that is 6 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Plant your raspberries in this trench, spaced 18 inches apart. Create new rows at 6 feet apart. This allows for the plants to bush out without interfering with your walkway.