Building the best Raspberry Trellis for Raspberries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX8eDPG6OwI

Raspberries are a rewarding fruit to grow, but without proper support, their canes can become tangled, weak, and difficult to manage. Building a sturdy trellis helps keep raspberry plants healthy, improves air circulation, and makes harvesting easier. This guide shares practical steps and tips to help you build the best raspberry trellis for a thriving garden.

Choosing the Right Location and Materials

Before building your trellis, pick a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Raspberries need at least six hours of sunlight daily to produce sweet, juicy berries. Avoid areas prone to strong winds or heavy shade.

For materials, select durable, weather-resistant options that can support the weight of mature raspberry canes:

• Posts (4) : Use treated wood, metal, or sturdy PVC pipes. Posts should be 5 feet tall.

• Hog panels (1.5): Galvanized steel panels that are 16 feet by 34 inches work well to hold the canes upright.

• 2 x 4s: 30 3/4 inches for connecting to the posts (6), 2 feet with 45 degree angled sides forming a trapezoid for the supports (12), 8 feet for connecting the "T" posts (6).

• Fasteners: 3 1/2 inch decking screws, Galvanized nails 1.5 inches long or staples to secure panels to wood frame.

• Stain: Thompson's Weather Seal for protecting the wood.

  
  

Choosing quality materials ensures your trellis lasts several seasons without sagging or breaking. This material list is for a 24 foot long row but could be adjusted in 8 foot increments.

Step-by-Step Building Process

1. Mark the Post Locations

   Measure and mark where each post will go, keeping 8 feet between them for stability.

   

2. Install the Posts

   Dig holes 2 feet deep and set the posts firmly in the ground. Use a level to keep them straight. Add concrete to decrease the chance of the wood rotting. See my video for more details. (I like to use a level as I build to check from one post to the next as well as the levelness of the "T" in the next step.)

   

3. Attach the Wood Frame

   

   Screw the 30 3/4 inches at the top of the posts forming a T shape. The end post will get 1 board on the outside edge while interior posts will get one on each side.

   

   Screw the 2 foot angled boards to the ends of the 30 3/4 inch boards and the center of the post. There will be two under each "T". These provide the support so that only 1 post is needed instead of 2.

   

   Then, Connect the "T" posts to each other with the long 8 foot boards.

   

   Treat all the boards with Thompson's Weather Seal to make the trellis last longer.

   

4. Attach the Hog Panel

   Use galvanized nails or staples to attach the panel to the frame. The second panel will need to be cut in half or you could make the row only 16 feet for 1 panel or a full 32 to use the full two panels.

   
   

5. Train the Raspberry Canes

   

   As new canes grow, gently move them to between the wires. This keeps canes upright and spaced for better air flow. I check back regularly to see if any need help with positioning.

   
   

6. Maintain the Trellis

   Check panels and posts each season. Tighten any loose nails and replace damaged parts to keep the structure strong.

   

Tips for Supporting Raspberry Growth

• Prune Regularly: Remove spent canes to encourage new growth and prevent overcrowding. If you nee more details on that follow this link: https://www.wisdompreserved.life/pruning-raspberry-plants-for-a-plentiful-harvest

• Space Canes Properly: Keep canes about 6 inches apart to avoid competition and disease.

• Water and Mulch: Keep soil moist and add mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

  
  

Benefits of a Well-Built Raspberry Trellis

A sturdy trellis improves raspberry plant health and fruit production in several ways:

• Better Air Circulation: Reduces fungal diseases by allowing air to flow between canes.

• Easier Harvesting: Upright canes make picking berries faster and less messy.

• Stronger Canes: Support prevents canes from bending or breaking under fruit weight.

• Cleaner Fruit: Keeps berries off the ground, reducing rot and pests.

  
  

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using Weak Materials: Thin wires or untreated wood can fail quickly under the weight of mature plants.

• Spacing Posts Too Far Apart: This causes wires to sag and canes to droop.

• Ignoring Maintenance: Loose wires and leaning posts reduce trellis effectiveness.