Prune Your Berry Bushes for a Better Fall Harvest

As berry season winds down, gardeners are advised to focus on essential fall maintenance for their currant, gooseberry, and raspberry bushes. Epp Säga, owner of Jugari Farm and a fruit-growing instructor at Räpina School of Horticulture, and Elmar Zimmer, head of Seedri nursery, highlight the critical tasks that will shape next year's harvest.

Säga emphasizes that timely pruning and the removal of old branches are paramount for ensuring a bountiful yield in the upcoming season. Alongside proper pruning, proactive disease and pest prevention, coupled with balanced fertilization, are key strategies for a healthy plant and a successful harvest.

These maintenance activities, best undertaken in late summer and fall, lay the groundwork for future fruit production. While some tasks can be postponed until spring, addressing pruning and plant health now will significantly benefit the bushes and their ability to produce fruit next year.