Blueberry bushes make a great addition to your garden for a couple of reasons. They are known for their excellent antioxidant properties, providing many health benefits but plants can easily grown and produce fruit for 20 years if the bushes are well taken care of.
Plants also add a beautiful aesthetic to the yard with their creamy white flowers early in the season and their scarlet foliage in the fall. There are a couple of things to keep in mind though when planting blueberries to make sure you have a successful harvest.
Advertisement
1. Sunny location
While blueberries are tolerant of shade, or partially shady spots, they will produce more fruit if planted in full sun sites in the garden. Look for a spot that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight daily.
2. Highly acidic soil
Blueberries thrive in soil that is quite acidic; ideally the soil pH should be between 4 and 5 for optimal growth. It's important to periodically test your soil to make sure it's in the proper range. The Royal Horticultural Society explains the why and how-to of acidifying your soil.
3. Lots of organic matter
Before planting, mix 2-3" of organic matter such as finished compost into the planting hole or the top 6-8" of the soil surface. This will help to improve the soil structure, increase beneficial microbial activity, and slowly release plant essential nutrients into the soil for plant uptake.
4. Water well
Plants are shallowed rooted and require more water than many other shrubs/bushes. To keep the surface roots from drying out water deeply, but as infrequently as possible, to fully saturate the soil profile. The water will then more upwards towards the surface as the soil dries out.
5. Mulch around bushes
After planting, layer 3-4" of mulch around the base of the bushes to help retain soil moisture and prevent weeds from sprouting. Pine needles and sawdust are excellent options as they will help to keep the soil in an acidic range.
6. Cover with netting
Once the fruit begins to form on the blueberry bushes it will be highly coveted by birds in the area. To keep from losing all of the fruit to the winged nuisances, it's important to cover the bushes with netting to keep the birds from eating the berries.
Advertisement
7. Prune plants after they are established
It's important to wait until plants are well established before you begin to prune. When blueberry bushes are around 4 years old it's time to start pruning them to promote the growth of new shoots and to remove dead, broken, weak, or spindly shoots. Ohio State University Extension offers a step by step guide on pruning blueberry bushes for the home garden.