If you want low maintenance and easy to grow ground cover for your lawn then creeping raspberry is the best option. You can grow it any type of garden. Even it grows well in low fertile soil. The best part of this plant is it does not need a high amount of fertilizers like some grass species.
Creeping raspberry plants are tough by nature and they tolerate sudden weather changes.
Moreover, the garden looks so beautiful when the beautiful vines of plant produce flowers and fruits.
Rubus calycinoides is its botanical name and it is a member of the rose family.
Creeping raspberry is one of those plants that stay green for 365 days. In winter, the color of leaves changes from green to rusty color. But in summer it produces green leaves with white flowers and colored fruit.
The plant is not limited only to as a ground cover or lawn replacement. You can grow it in containers. To use it as cascading ornamentals use hanging baskets to grow it.
To help you better understand creeping plants growing requirements. We have developed a guide to growing creeping plants.
Let’ s dive in:
Best products to grow this ground cover
Quick Care Guide
| Common names | Creeping Raspberry |
| Sun | Full to partial shade |
| Water | Low |
| Soil | Low to medium fertile |
| Height & Spread | 6 inches tall and 24 inches spread |
| Bloom time | Summer |
| Flower color | White |
| Zones | 7 to 9 |
About the Crinkle- Leaf Creeper
Crinkle-leaf creepers are easy to grow in all types of soil. It does not matter you have dry soil, semi-dry soil, sandy soil or clay soil you can grow it easily. In fact, it is a best ground cover in areas where moisture fluctuates every day.
Originally this plant is a native of Taiwan. People of the country do not grow it because it is naturally found in almost all places. They treat it as we deal with weeds. In the USA we grow it as a ground cover and also grow it to reduce soil erosion in hilly areas.
The good news is it is a true ground cover because it does not climb on the structures in your garden or on walls. This makes it a good choice over other vine-type ground covers and hanging basket plants.
Low sunlight, hot and dry winds are not a problem for this tough plant. Even in worst weather conditions it grows a minimum of 6 inches tall and spread 20 to 26 inches.
It only produces white flowers iand red fruit only in summer. Like many other creeping plants it also has thorns. But they are harmless because the thorns are soft and do not cause harm to human skin on touching the plant.
The fruit color will be yellow to orange-red. But the shape and looks are similar to the red raspberry. This is why it is called the creeping raspberry plant.
The only problem with this amazing plant is it is not suitable for walking on. The soft thorns can still poke you. It is suitable where you just want something to cover the ground with beautiful looks.
Grow and Care, Creeping Raspberry
You need to use bricks or any metal to contained this plant. The edging should go a minimum of 3 inches deep in the ground. It may grow over the edging but the roots will stay inside the edging area. You can use shears to trim and keep it short.
To grow your plants healthy you need to follow the below-growing guide.
Light & Temperature
The plant is perfect to grow in zones 6 to 9. If you are living in a colder zone you can still grow it. All you need to do is protect the roots in the winter season. Use mulch to protect the roots on hard winter days.
These plants like to thrive in full sun. But partial shade will not be a problem. For heavy bloom full sun is necessary.
No need to worry about the temperature if you are living in zone 6 to 9. As it is an evergreen green plant it can tolerate the winters and hot summer days.
Soil & Water
Another best part is your creeping beery can easily be grown in all types of soil. Where other creeping plants need a specific type of soil to grow. You can grow it in acidic or alkaline soil. It likes to thrive in Sandy soil, loamy, or clay soil. No need to worry about the darning conditions of the soil. Because the plant can handle dry to little wet conditions.
But if the soil has very poor draining power then you need to add perlite to it. Perlite will keep it airy and lightweight. Both these conditions are necessary for the well-draining soil.
When you have young plants on your lawn then you should have to give them a good amount of water. This water in their initial growing stage helps them to grow faster.
When the plants are old enough then wait for the soil to become dry. Then give some water to keep the root area moist.
Remember that excess water to old plants can lead to root rot diseases. And this disease is deadly for this type of soft plant.
Fertilizer
Before planting the creeping raspberry plants you need to think about the fertilizers and weeds. No doubt little nutrient boost in the form of 10-10-10 granular fertilizer will help the plant. The creeping berries grow long, strong, and produce large-size fruits. But you need to use mulch after the application.
If you do not use mulch then the nutrients that you give to your plants will get suck by the weeds. You will have weeds all over the place and in between the creeping berries.
Do not use a huge amount of fertilizer only just sprinkle it over the place. The cheap and best method of fertilizing creeping raspberry is using compost. Compost is an organic substance that has all the nutrients that a plant needs to grow. And plants like creeping ground covers thrive crazy in composted soil.
You can buy it from the local nursery store. It will cost you 2 to 5 dollars per bag. Or you can buy a compost tumbler and make it at home.
Propagation
Propagating creeping is simple and easy. You don’t have to buy costly rooting hormone and follow the germination process. When you want to grow more plants in different locations. Then take the 6 inch cutting of stem from a healthy stem. Then plant the cutting in moist potting soil. Here you need to keep the soil moist until the stem develops roots.
Another method of growing it is ,from seeds. You can buy seeds from the market or from Amazon.com. But the best way is to collect your seeds from the growing creeping berry plants.
Here you need to remember is you have to plant the seeds right after the harvest.
To harvest seeds, pluck the overripe fruits mash them with your hands. Then put it in the bowl filled with water.
Leave this bowl away from sunlight. After 3 to 4 days you will see the seeds will sit down on the bottom. Use a strainer to take out the seeds from the bowl.
Now you have to plant them soon because they are ready for planting. Actually, they already stay for 3 to 4 days in water this means they are germinated.
If you fell it is necessary you can change the bowl water.
Pruning
This is the necessary step to keep the plant in good shape or in the boundaries. The plant grows up to 25 inches in a year. So the pruning is a mandatory need of a grower. Use sharp shears to cut the overgrown part of the plants.
In winters, remove the dead part of the plant. Also, remove the dry dead leaves and stems. While working on this plant you should wear gloves. The thorns can irritate your skin.
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Growing problems
This plant does not experience many growing problems. Yet plant diseases are common and you have to fight them. Or you can make a good care routine and prevent them from affecting your plants.
Mealybugs are common on the crinkle-leaf creeper. Once your plant is affected by it. You need to use the neem oil to get rid of it. You can also use the neem oil spray twice a month to prevent any pest attack.
Pets that like to eat foliage are also common. The most common type of foliage eating pest is a caterpillar. The insecticidal spray is used to treat caterpillars.
To treat all types of pests and to avoid them use medium grade insecticidal spray.
Disease
Orange rust is the most deadly diseases that can affect your growing creeping raspberry plants. Once the leaves turn green to yellow this means your plant is hit by it. Unfortunately, there is no cure to this problem. The only possible solution is to remove the affected plants and save other healthy plants.
Powdery Mildew is another common problem. The use of neem oil on the leaves can cure the problem.
This is all about growing and caring creeping plants. If you still need any help contact us. We will clear your doubts ASAP.
