Raspberry bed prep- had lots of issues

I've not been successful growing raspberries and I really want to. So, I'm trying again and this time I'm determined to make it work. So, how do I make the planting bed to set these up for success??

Following, because I'm planning on planting rasberries along the house this spring. There were originally some cedar bushes growing along this spot when we moved in, I ripped them about about 5 years ago and it's just been a crabgrass patch the last 4-5 years. I've had the chickens at work cleaning it up though, they've worked it down to bare dirt and have (hopefully) eaten a lot of the crabgrass seed there too. I've been throwing out my fireplace ashes there too, mostly for the chickens to bathe in while they do their duty there.

I'm no expert, but here is what I have done... and it's been pretty successful overall.

The first thing is to pick a variety that goes with your zone. Cold loving or warm loving or whatever.

I picked a spot and mowed it short. I rototilled up a strip as deep as I could go. The first time I just added about 3-4 inches of compost. I planted the bushes about 12" apart and kept things mowed nearby and weeded while they were establishing.  Also water... lots of water as raspberries have shallow roots. Those were doing great, but we had to move. The next time I put down some compost, then some newspaper as mulch with about 2-3 inches of woodchips on top.  Way less weeding and they were looking great for the first season, and I had to move again.

I also expirimented with growing garlic next to the row. The garlic grew just fine, but I don't know if it helped with any pests.  

I would like to recommend adding compost, leaves, and wood chips along with mushrooms.

And once the raspberries start producing add some bird netting.

I chose everbearing varieties because I think it is likely they will be mowed down by rabbits every year. So a plant that can grow and produce on first year wood was very important to me. They are also cold hardy.

I think I want to plant them by the pond.  There are some trees along one side and I'd like to plant them among them. It would be in the flood plain of the pond pump, but not in the overflow of the pond area.

I have a lot of file boxes at work I can use as my grass/weed killing layer and then I shall just have to mulch a lot and make sure I have water happening.

Any other advice is appreciated. Thanks ya'll!