Spraying Raspberry Plants

Familiarize yourself with potential pest and diseases issues for raspberry plants in your area. Your local cooperative horticultural extension is an excellent resource for this information. Documents for identification and control (put together by your local state universities) may already exist online, free of charge. Your nearest independent garden centers and local growers are also invaluable sources of pest and disease control in your area.

In high-density areas, a spray schedule consisting of the right sprays and applying at the right times (per the spray’s label) can be paramount to the survival of your raspberry plants. Many potential issues can be prevented with sprays before they become problematic. To get the most return on the investment of your time and energy, spraying raspberry plants should be done consistently and thoroughly following the guidelines below.

NOTE: This is part 9 in a series of 11 articles. For a complete background on how to grow raspberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.

General Maintenance

Before you begin, read and follow all instructions on the labels of the products you have in hand. Do not combine any chemicals unless the labels on each chemical spray involved specifically state that you can safely do so.

A proactive home spray program for raspberry plants includes dormant-season as well as growing-season sprays for pests and diseases. Research your location and learn about any pests or disease that are common in your area. If you know certain diseases are common in there, consider planting disease-resistant varieties if possible.

Note: Contact your local county Cooperative Extension for alternative suggestions and advice on cultural and chemical control methods if certain sprays offered by Stark Bro’s are not recommended for use in your area.

When to Spray Raspberry Plants

Dormant Season (late winter/early spring, before bud break)
Growing Season – Bud Break (emergence of new growth)
Growing Season – After Blossom (after petals drop*)

*gives bees and other beneficials a chance to safely pollinate the blossoms

It bears repeating: Always follow instructions printed on container label for more detailed information, such as timing and application instructions specifically for caneberries like raspberry plants.

Pest Control Sprays for Raspberry Plants

Monterey Horticultural Oil

Pests: Aphids, mites, scale, whiteflies, sawflies, loopers, leafhoppers, leafminers, leafrollers, psylla, mealybugs, thrips, worms, and more.
Diseases: Black spot, powdery mildew, rust, sooty mold
Timing: Growing Season – Pre-Bloom, Growing Season – After Blossom, Dormant Season
Type: Mainly preventative. Controls overwintering pests and their eggs.
Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, as needed. Do not apply when temperatures are below 32ºF (no heat restriction for use – unique for an oil spray). Do not apply during drought or to wilted or otherwise stressed plants. Test for plant sensitivity prior to broad use.

Hi-Yield® Vegetable & Ornamental Insect Control

For: Moths, leafminers, leafrollers, borers, drosophila, Japanese beetle, thrips, worms, caterpillars, flies, and more.
Timing: Growing Season – After Blossom
Type: Active. Controls pests on contact. Pests must be present for spray to be effective.
Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, every 7 days as needed. Can be applied up to 7 days before harvest.

Safer® Brand Insect Killing Soap

For: Adelgids (woolly aphids), aphids, lacebugs, mealybugs, mites, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, scale, plant bugs, sawfly larvae (pear and rose slugs), psyllids, tent caterpillars, thrips, spider mites, earwigs, and whitefly.
Timing: Growing Season – After Blossom
Type: Mainly active. Controls pests on contact. Pests must be present for spray to be effective.
Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed. Apply every 5 to 7 days when insects are present. Can be used up to the day of harvest.

Natural Guard® Caterpillar Killer Spray w/BT

For: Leafrollers, moths, caterpillars, worms, and more
Timing: Growing Season – Bud Break or After Blossom
Type: Active. Controls pests on contact. Pests must be present for spray to be effective.
Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed when eggs or newly hatched larvae first appear.

GardenTech® Sevin® Bug Killer

For: Aphids, mites, worms, scale, leafhoppers, leafrollers, borers, moths, Japanese beetles, grasshoppers, stink bugs, lacebugs, spittlebugs, thrips, caterpillars, sawfly, rose chafer, and more.
Timing: Growing Season – After Blossom
Type: Active. Controls pests on contact. Pests must be present for spray to be effective.
Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, every 7 days, up to 8 times per year (max) as needed. Can be applied up to 3 days before harvest.

Disease Control Sprays for Raspberry Plants

Hi-Yield® Captan 50W Fungicide

For: Anthracnose, brown rot, blight, leafspot, botrytis rot (gray mold), mummy berry, spur blight, phomopsis cane and leaf spot, downy mildew, and more.
Timing: Growing Season – Bud Break (pre-bloom, bloom, petal fall), Growing Season – After Blossom
Type: Mainly active, also preventative. Controls and prevents fungal diseases.
Application: For application rates consult the label on listed fruits and ornamentals. May be applied up to day of harvest.

Monterey Liquid Copper Fungicide

For: Anthracnose, powdery mildew, cane spot, leaf spot, leaf scorch, leaf blight, stem canker, and more.
Timing: Growing Season – Bud Break (may include bloom period), Growing Season – After Blossom
Type: Mainly active, also preventative. Controls and prevents fungal diseases. OMRI certified organic.
Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed. Can be used up to the day of harvest.

Ferti-Lome® Fire Blight Spray

For: Fire blight, bacterial wilt, stem rot, leaf spot, crown gall
Timing: Growing Season – Bud Break (may include bloom period), Growing Season – After Blossom
Type: Mainly preventative, also active. Controls and prevents bacterial diseases.
Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, every 3 to 4 days during bloom time and every 5 to 7 days as needed after blossom period. Do not apply when fruit is visible. For use as a foliar and/or blossom spray.

Combination Sprays for Raspberry Pests & Diseases

Natural Guard® Neem

Pests: Aphids, spider mites, scale, whiteflies, beetles, leafrollers, and other insect pests.
Diseases: Powdery mildew, black spot, downy mildew, anthracnose, rust, leaf spot, botrytis, needle rust, scab and flower, twig and tip blight, and alternaria.
Timing: Dormant Season, Growing Season – Bud Break, Growing Season – After Blossom
Type: Mainly preventative, also active. Controls overwintering pests and their eggs, and pests on contact. Controls and prevents fungal diseases.
Application: Follow the label. Oil-based, so apply in early morning/late evening to minimize the potential for leaf burn. Apply as directed, every 7- to 14-days as needed. Can be used up to the day of harvest.

Monterey Fruit Tree Spray Plus

Pests: Aphids, mites, scale, whiteflies, beetles, leafrollers, loopers, mealybugs, leafhoppers, leafminers, thrips, borers, grasshoppers, crickets, ants, hornworm, earwig, chiggers, worms, and other insect pests.
Diseases: Powdery mildew, black spot, brown spot, dollar spot, snow mold, downy mildew, anthracnose, rust, leaf spot, botrytis, needle rust, blight (flower blight, twig blight, and tip blight), scab.
Timing: Growing Season – Pre-Bloom (for early disease prevention), Growing Season – After Blossom (for pest and disease control on contact).
Type: Mainly active, also preventative. Controls pests on contact. Pests must be present for spray to be effective. Controls and prevents fungal diseases.
Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, every 7 to 14 days, as needed. Do not use more than 1 time per day on the same plants. Do not use more than 10 times per season. Do not apply when temperatures are below 45ºF. Do not apply to wilted or otherwise stressed plants. Apply in early morning or late evening to minimize potential for leaf burn. Test for plant sensitivity prior to broad use.

Monterey Horticultural Oil

Pests: Aphids, mites, scale, whiteflies, sawflies, loopers, leafhoppers, leafminers, leafrollers, psylla, mealybugs, thrips, worms, and more.
Diseases: Black spot, powdery mildew, rust, sooty mold
Timing: Growing Season – Pre-Bloom, Growing Season – After Blossom, Dormant Season
Type: Mainly preventative. Controls overwintering pests and their eggs.
Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, as needed. Do not apply when temperatures are below 32ºF (no heat restriction for use – unique for an oil spray). Do not apply during drought or to wilted or otherwise stressed plants. Test for plant sensitivity prior to broad use.