How do I care for a blueberry bush?

Question

I recently bought a house that has a mature (about 7 feet tall) blueberry bush on the property. How do I care for it? Do I trim it back in the fall or let it go? Do I spray it with anything? I am in Massachusetts and have never taken care of one before.

Answer 1

From US Highbush Blueberry Council:

"Mulching - Blueberries do best with a 2-4" mulch over the roots to conserve moisture, prevent weeds and add organic matter. Bark mulch, acid compost, sawdust, grass clippings, etc. all work well. Repeat every other year.


Pruning - It is important that blueberries get established before allowing them to bear fruit. Thereafter, they should be heavily pruned each year to avoid over fruiting which results in small or poor growth.

Remove all blooms as they appear the first. year. In years thereafter, follow these steps after the leaves have dropped.

Remove low growth around the base. If it doesn't grow up, it gets pruned out!
Remove the dead wood, and non-vigorous twiggy wood. Select for bright colored wood with long (at least 3 inch) laterals. Remove blotchy colored short growth.
If 1/3 to 1/2 of the wood has not been removed by the above steps, thin out the fruiting laterals and small branches until this balance has been obtained.
Fertilizing - Blueberries like acid fertilizers such as Rhody or Azalea formulations. For newly planted stock, use 2 tablespoons of 10-20-10 (or similar fertilizer) in late spring or once plants are established. (Careful! Blueberries are very sensitive to over fertilization!) For subsequent years, use 1 ounce of fertilizer for each year from planting to a total of 8 ounces per plant. Apply in early spring and again in late spring for best results. Always water well after fertilizing.

For organic fertilizers, blood meal and cottonseed meal work well. Avoid using fresh manure."

Hope this helps. Check the link below and follow it back for more info if you need to. Good luck!

Answer 2

just pic the berries wash them and enjoy

mulch around the bush ...water in the growing season
you can prune in early spring to control direction of growth


my blue berry bushes take care of themselves

good luck

also try this site there is a Q&A and a forum

Answer 3

confident mend it into the soil. The reasoning is for acidic soil that they love. supply them slightly sunshine fertilizer additionally, advance starter sort to maintain them bright. those timber can die off regardless of if at 5-6 feet tall you have your self some large vegetation.

Answer 4

I believe you need to use an acid fertilizer, like you would use on most evergreens.