Cutting Back

• 1). Trim canes back in the winter after the raspberries have been harvested for the year. Cut the canes back about 1 foot from the ground.
  
  
• 2). Cover the short canes with burlap sacks to block extreme cold winds. Leave the bags in place until the last frost in the spring.
  
  
• 3). Remove the bags in spring to allow the canes to start growing. This will produce nice fall crops but no summer berries. This is not an option for raspberry bushes that produce only a summer crop.
  
  

Folding Down

• 1). Lay the canes to the ground by slowly bending them so they don't crack. Lay them down one after the other in a row.
  
  
• 2). Cover the ends of the canes with a shovel full of dirt to hold them in place. Mound dirt up on either side of the rest of the cane to shelter it. This will protect the canes from cold wind and freezing weather. As a general rule, make the mounds at least 3 inches high.
  
  
• 3). Cover the dirt mounds and end of the canes with mulch for added protection. The amount will depend on the length of the canes. As long as the canes are covered to a depth of 1 to 2 inches they should be fine.
  
  
• 4). Spread burlap over the parts of the cane near the base that cannot be buried. Alternatively, build a mound of mulch around the base to a height of 4 to 5 inches to protect it.