Hi Michael,

Thank you for contacting the UVM Master Gardener Helpline. I’m sorry to hear about your raspberry patch. There are a variety of types of ferns that make Vermont their home and many are considered invasive particularly if their roots are in competition with plants you want to grow.

Raspberry plants can live for many years in the same spot. Over time the productivity of the patch may decline due to factors such as lack of sunlight, disease, pests, soil fertility depletion or competition with other plants. In addition, old plantings usually have more weed and insect pests than younger plantings.

Since you have been growing raspberries in the same location for 20 years, you have been very fortunate since the plants have been productive far longer than is usually the case. The University of Wisconsin states that plants typically live 12 to 15 years and when the plants are in decline, their recommendation is to plow the plants and replant in a different location. If you don’t have another location, wait a year or two before replanting in the same site. You may want to choose varieties with disease resistance to minimize the risk of future problems.

If choosing a new location, make certain that it has well-draining soil, receives adequate sunlight, and is free from pests and diseases that could harm the raspberries. If you keep them in the same location, you can improve the soil by adding compost, aged manure or other organic matter to replenish nutrients. Additional information can be found on the following website: htps://polk.extension.wisc.edu/files/2014/02/Growing-Raspberry-in-WI-A1610.pdf

Regardless of which option you choose, it's essential to prepare the soil properly before planting the new raspberry plants and to provide them with adequate care and maintenance to ensure healthy growth and productivity. You may want to consider having a soil test. Soil test forms and instructions can be found on the UVM website: https://www.uvm.edu/extension/agricultural-and-environmental-testing-lab. Soil testing can provide you with useful information regarding pH and organic matter content which are critical for successful raspberry plants.

I hope this helps,