Mulching Raspberries

I'm wondering if anyone has mulched their raspberries and what type of mulch they may have used.

I've never mulched mine before. I've had the patch for 20 years. I usually have to weed it two times a year, until the plants get so full that weeds don't grow under them.

I'm considering mulching this year to retain some moisture and keeps some upkeep to a minimum this summer.

I know I have to keep an area around the base of the canes clear of mulch, but otherwise I'm unsure if it is a good idea or not. I have lawn clippings ( which I'm leaning towards because I have a LOT of lawn clippings and they break down) or I could do pine needles. They are a little harder to accumulate.

Any experiences or advice would be greatly welcomed.

Mel

 

@Melody Mc. I use tree chips. My raspberries grow fine with those.

 

I appreciate this. I think I can rummage enough up from the chippers that came to do the power lines two years ago. Do you keep them away from the base of the plant Daniel? or are the chips loose enough that you don't have to worry about that.

 

For my raspberries, I mulch with woodchips too or the weeds I pull. I mulch right up to the trunk

 

I mulch right up to the canes. They don't seem to mind it at all.

By the way, I didn't water mine at all last summer, even during the 115F week. The heat burned the first berries but there was still enough for two batches of jam, and they recovered completely.

 

Thank you friend. Very helpful to know.

 

You can use anything, remember to water first then put the mulch on.

 

Thank you @Logan . I appreciate this. I also had to back up and remeber that if I use wood mulch, the soil will remain too cold in the spring and it would all have to be removed, then added again. I'm going to use the lawn clippings so that it all breaks down by winter/spring.I'll just have to redo it every year, but that is okay. I have an abundance.