How to Plant Raspberry in Zone 8

Prepare a sunny patch of soil that receives at least six to eight hours of full sunlight. Loosen the soil in the patch to a 12-inch depth, using the garden fork.

Measure soil pH with a soil testing kit. Raspberries thrive in soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. If your test reveals a pH below 5.5, you will need to add lime to the soil. For a pH above 6.5, add peat moss. Mix the required amendment into the soil according to package instructions.

Dig deep planting holes for your raspberry roots. The holes should measure 12 inches deep by 12 inches wide. Space each hole 3 feet from the next. Moisten the soil at the bottom of each hole, using the garden hose.

Insert one raspberry root into the center of each hole. Place roots down and stems up. Backfill each hole with the original soil. Pat the soil on top of each raspberry root to remove trapped air. Cover the planting area with a 3-inch layer of bark mulch to improve drainage and deter weeds.

Water the raspberry roots deeply after planting, soaking the soil to an inch deep. A soaker hose can provide deeper watering than the spray of a garden hose. Continue to keep the soil moist to the 1-inch depth for the duration of the growing season.

Hammer in a 6-foot trellis directly behind the planting holes. The trellis will offer the raspberry bushes support when they grow, so the fruit does not lay on the ground, where it will rot or become diseased.