Should I mulch around blackberries and raspberries?

Fortuna, MO

I have prepared a couple raised beds and plan to plant some raspberry and blackberry plants this spring. Should I mulch around the plants with straw after planting them? If so should I leave the mulch on all year?

Will apache blackberry plants spread much?

Thanks.

Brockton, MA(Zone 6a)

Bill, I'm not sure about Apache spreading in particular but blackberries take a lot of room. The canes can get 15+ feet long. Mine don't spread by root very much but they will set root at the tip of the long canes where they rest on the ground in the fall.
Don't plant them too closely or you won't be able to get in there to pick. LOL.
I mulch with an inch or so of screened compost in spring but after the plants get established you won't see the ground much past mid June. I mulch for the winter a bit then rake everything up in spring when I prune.
They take 2 -3 years to really get going.
Andy P

Fortuna, MO

Thanks for the info....

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