Following a few guidelines in the fall can mean success with blueberry and raspberry patches next season, said a University of Illinois horticulture educator.

"Home gardeners should consider following a checklist of activities in the coming weeks to prepare their blueberry and raspberry patches for the winter," said Maurice Ogutu.

For blueberry patches, he recommended the following:

· In general, do not fertilize blueberries in the fall as it is important to encourage hardening off of the canes. You can apply sulfur, lime, and some fertilizers based on soil tests and plant tissue analysis but the fertilizers should be applied before the fall rains begin and before mulch is applied. Do not apply any nitrogen fertilizer at this time.

· Survey the blueberry patch for broad-leafed and grass weeds and control any biennial weed by applying recommended herbicides.

· Diagnose the plants for disease problems by checking the canes that tend to turn red in color earlier than others in the fall. Check further to see if there is damage on the roots from either disease or animals such as voles or insect pests like dogwood borer or grubs. If most of the plants are stunted due to stunt disease, look for leafhoppers. Bushes should first be treated with recommended insecticides and then removed.

· Control canker worms by spraying with recommended insecticides.

For raspberry patches, Ogutu recommended:

· Avoid over-fertilizing and supplemental watering of the patch so that the canes of summer bearing red and black raspberries can start hardening off. Fall-bearing raspberries can benefit from supplemental water in dry weather to maintain quality and size of the fruit.

· Do not prune any cane at this time unless it is seriously damaged or diseased.

· Apply fertilizer and lime based on soil tests and plant tissue analysis. Some sulfur and magnesium-containing fertilizers such as Sul-Po-Mag or Epsom salts can be applied at this time so that they can be leached to the root zones of the plants.

· Survey the patch to check what types of weeds are present and decide on what type of herbicide to use. If biennial weeds are present in the patch, control them with herbicides.

· Control fruit rot in fall-bearing raspberries by applying recommended fungicides and harvesting frequently.

· Scout the patch for powdery mildew and apply recommended fungicides. If phytophthora root rot is found in the patch, treat the affected areas with Ridomil Gold or Alliete in September or early October.

· Check the plants by scouting for crown borers--the adult is a moth that looks like a yellow jacket. Check wilting canes if they are damaged by crown borer and determine if crown borer larvae are present in the crown. If the roots of the wilted canes are dark red in color, they have been attacked by phytophthora crown rot. Remove the infected canes and eliminate wild brambles growing near the patch.