Raspberries: Pests & Diseases
Raspberries thrive in a sunny, sheltered position with moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Summer-fruiting types carry berries on canes made the previous year, while autumn-fruiting types crop on current growth. Training canes neatly and removing old wood promptly keeps plants productive and reduces places for pests and disease to persist.
Common pests
Raspberry beetle is a key pest: its larvae may be found inside fruit and spoil the harvest. Aphids feed on soft growth and can spread raspberry viruses. Birds, particularly blackbirds and thrushes, take ripening berries. Vine weevil can occasionally damage roots in container-grown plants, and cane-boring insects may cause individual shoots to wilt. Poorly supported, crowded canes also shelter slugs around low fruit.
Common diseases
Spur blight, cane blight and cane spot cause dark lesions on canes, weak buds and dieback. Grey mould can rot ripe berries during damp weather or where fruit is crowded. Raspberry viruses may cause mottled, distorted foliage and poor vigour, commonly spread by aphids or introduced with infected plants. Root rots are more likely in persistently waterlogged ground and can lead to weak, collapsing canes.
Prevention
Buy certified virus-free plants and choose a site with sun, airflow and drainage. Space canes well and tie them to wires so foliage does not form a dense thicket. Avoid growing raspberries where old canes with disease have recently stood, and keep the row weed-free without damaging shallow roots. Use clean tools, remove prunings, and avoid splashing soil onto canes when watering.
Non-chemical control
Net the row as fruit begins to colour, keeping netting taut and checked regularly. Pick berries frequently, removing any damaged or mouldy fruit. For raspberry beetle, harvest carefully and discard fruit containing larvae; shaking berries over a pale tray can reveal them. Rub or wash aphids from young shoots and encourage hoverflies and ladybirds. Cut out visibly diseased canes at their base and dispose of them away from the patch.
What to look for
Inspect emerging shoots in spring for aphids and weak or marked canes. During flowering and harvest, check fruit for raspberry beetle larvae and grey mould. After picking, examine canes for purple-brown lesions, cracking or dieback. Watch for persistent leaf mottling or stunting, which can indicate a virus problem.
Tips
For summer-fruiting raspberries, remove all fruited canes immediately after harvest and retain strong new canes. For autumn-fruiting types, cut all canes to ground level in late winter. Keep varieties labelled, as pruning at the wrong time can remove the following season's crop.
Raspberries pests & diseases: frequently asked questions
What are the common pests of raspberries?
Raspberry beetle is a key pest: its larvae may be found inside fruit and spoil the harvest.
What diseases affect raspberries?
Spur blight, cane blight and cane spot cause dark lesions on canes, weak buds and dieback.
How do I prevent pests and diseases on raspberries?
Buy certified virus-free plants and choose a site with sun, airflow and drainage.
General guidance for UK home gardens, focused on prevention and non-chemical control. The RHS or a local garden centre can help with tricky cases. Page updated 18 Sep 2026.