sick raspberry plants

[Helenclare]

Hi,
My summer fruiting raspberries are looking very sorry for themselves. They are losing leaves at a great rate and the leaves are covered with a black sooty deposit underneath. The leaves look as though they have mild rust on the upper side and are drying up/going crispy. Any thoughts on what it is? I have trawled the internet but with no joy, other than to collect all the leaves up and destroy them. Some have suggested spraying with winter wash, but I don't know what that is!
Many thanks in advance,
Helen

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Helenclare, mine were looking pretty stressed as well, what i put down to nothing more than drought. After several good soakings they have put on some new healthy growth.

[FelixLeiter]

It now being autumn and all, leaves will start to be lost, starting with the lowest ones usually. Have you cut out the canes that fruited this year? They will being dying off now, if they're still around. Sooty deposits tend to be caused by aphids or other insect pests producing honeydew. It's this that the fungus sooty mould grows on. The fungus is harmful in itself — it's a symptom, not a cause. Any aphids or other infestation will soon cease to be a problem with the onset of colder weather. Raspberries always seem to get some rust on their leaves near the end of the season.

[Helenclare]

Thank you so much for your replies. I have pruned the summer fruiting canes and had not thought of aphids causing the fungus/sooty deposits. the canes are stressed through drought, they are mulched with strulch, but probably need a good soaking. I will give them a good soaking tomorrow!
Helen