Growing Raspberries: How To Build A Trellis

Written by Justin Stewart
on Jun 26, 2009

To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.

Reviewed by
H.R. Helm
on Jun 26, 2023

field of raspberries supported by trellises

2-6 hours
•
Beginner
•
50-75

2 posts about 6' long2 posts about 42" longWireShovelPhillips screwdriverPower drillScrewsMeasuring tape

Growing raspberries isn't difficult once the plants are established. However, canes will often bend as they lengthen and root to the ground or be damaged because of their height, weight, and fullness. A raspberry trellis is an easily solution to this problem. Building a trellis for your raspberries is an easy DIY task that will improve the health of your plant and the quantity of your crop.

Step 1 - Measure and Mark

Measure the length of the row you want for growing raspberries. Your row will need to be about one to one and a half feet wide. Raspberry plants need to be spaced between two and three feet apart, so figure how many plants you have and how long your row will be, then measure that out and mark the ends so you'll know where to put your end support posts. A good length for a row is about 20 feet. If you have more than 10 plants, then you'll want to make two rows and build a trellis for each row separately. If the row is longer, the wire used has more chance of hanging lower than you intend, especially near the middle, and will provide less support.

Step 2 - Place End Posts

Once the spots are marked, then use a shovel to dig a hole at each marked end. The hole should be about two feet deep for best results. A hole that's not as deep won't offer the right amount of support for the trellis or the raspberry plants. Then take the two six-foot posts and place in each hole. This will leave about four feet of wooden post standing out of the ground. Press the dirt securely around each post to keep them stable.

Step 3 - Attach the Smaller Posts

Take the two 42" posts and attach one to the top of each end post using the power drill and screws so that you form a "T" with each end post. You can attach them a foot from the top of each end post or on the very top. The wire will run from end to end, attached to these posts, so place them at the height you want the wires to run. You may want to create a lower support and a higher support to accommodate plants as they grow.

Step 4 - Drill Wire Holes

Drill a hole in each end of the 42" posts, about an inch from the end. These are the holes where the trellis wire will be attached.

Step 5 - Attach the Wire

Measure two pieces of wire four feet longer than your raspberry row. Run each piece between the two matching holes you just drilled so that each one runs the length of the row. Center it so that the extra wire makes up two feet on each end. Wrap that wire around the post to keep it securely in place. Now, your growing raspberries will be supported by the wire of your new raspberry trellis and avoid touching the ground.