Berry bed soil & raspberry issues
In a few weeks I'm going to be working on improving the soil in my berry bed, even though things are already planted there it still needs work. I'm going to be picking out more (!) rocks, and adding some mulch. Before I throw down mulch, would it be a good idea to put down some humus and then cover that with the mulch? The soil is pretty shitty and needs a lot of work.
Keep in mind I have no interest in bringing the tiller back over and working in the soil, I'm looking more for a "top down" method. At the moment anything I do to the soil would be an improvement.
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While I'm here, I have a question about my raspberry plant. It's a red latham raspberry plant and for the past few weeks, starting from the bottom of the plant going up, the leaves have started curling up and generally looking poor. I was afraid it was a fungus of some sort or disease so I cut the "infected" leaves off but now whatever's going on has reached the top of the plant. At this rate it will have no foliage left in about a week or two.
Anyone know what's going on? It's a very new plant, purchased and planted this spring from a reliable nursery, has two green canes and one cut brown cane so I suspect it may be in its second year? It's only about two feet tall, no fruit. No sign of insect damage. I am going to go cut into the green canes and see if it's still alive inside, and then dig up the soil around it and see if the roots are rotting or not. I will also probably buy a replacement tonight just in case.
EDIT: Photos of the raspberry are now in the comments!
Keep in mind I have no interest in bringing the tiller back over and working in the soil, I'm looking more for a "top down" method. At the moment anything I do to the soil would be an improvement.
------------------
While I'm here, I have a question about my raspberry plant. It's a red latham raspberry plant and for the past few weeks, starting from the bottom of the plant going up, the leaves have started curling up and generally looking poor. I was afraid it was a fungus of some sort or disease so I cut the "infected" leaves off but now whatever's going on has reached the top of the plant. At this rate it will have no foliage left in about a week or two.
Anyone know what's going on? It's a very new plant, purchased and planted this spring from a reliable nursery, has two green canes and one cut brown cane so I suspect it may be in its second year? It's only about two feet tall, no fruit. No sign of insect damage. I am going to go cut into the green canes and see if it's still alive inside, and then dig up the soil around it and see if the roots are rotting or not. I will also probably buy a replacement tonight just in case.
EDIT: Photos of the raspberry are now in the comments!