Prune blueberries anytime after harvest, but before August 1 to ensure flower buds will have time to mature before the onset of fall and winter. Blueberries will grow in shady spots, but fruit production will be poor. prevent the plant from growing in a manner that will cause lower fruit yield or disease. New plants need different pruning and care than older, established plants. The plant will reach a height of six to 12 feet tall if it is a high bush blueberry, and six inches to two feet if it is a low bush blueberry. Georgia Gem Blueberry Bush Vaccinium corymbosum 'Georgia Gem' Growing Zones 7, 8, 9 Mature Size: 6 to 8 . Southern highbush blueberries are grown commercially in South Georgia, but this species can require more care than rabbiteye types and are very prone to attack by deer and birds because they ripen so early in the season. Other branches will have a tendency to grow long and curve down towards the ground. Whether it was pressing apples for homemade cider or trudging through the early spring snows of upstate NY to tap trees for maple syrup, there were always chores with each new season. Pruning young blueberries. Advice from cleaning experts on how to effectively clean your keyboard and keep it that way, By Ashley Chalmers It's also a good idea to plant multiple varieties . In this article, we will look at the benefits of pruning your blueberry bushes. When it comes to summertime fruit, our favorite is blueberries. from ground level or a total of about 20 percent of the canopy (Figure 2). For information or the status on programs, contact your local Extension office by email or phone. Pruning Blueberry bushes should be pruned annually in the dormant season to remove any dead, diseased, damaged and . The goal of pruning is to increase the health and productivity of your bushes in the long run. You should also prune off old canes to 6-12 inches tall. In the end, this simple task will ensure your plants remain healthy for many years to come. In this case, you will need to prune the bush more aggressively as the smaller root system wont be able to maintain the existing canes. The plant quickly regenerates the following season, but it will take two years after mowing to bear fruit. Prune to open up the interior of the bush to sunlight and to remove low growth, forcing the bush upright. If repotting and trimming the roots, prune the bush back by about 50-60%. Pruning should be done while the plants are dormant. Always make clean cuts without tearing the bark, and try not to leave any stumps. Rabbiteye varieties have been bred for years, and many of the varieties listed are somewhat antiquated. Your goal should be to have a multi-trunked bush with strong canes of all different ages emerging from the ground, so that as each older cane is removed, a younger cane is already there to replace it. Blueberry expert, Troy Wojtaszek (opens in new tab) says, 'it sounds scary to be pruning so much out, but that's normal so don't be afraid. If the initial soil pH is above 6.0, growing blueberries will be difficult unless massive amounts of peat moss or milled pine bark are mixed with the soil. 4 min read. This is repeated yearly to encourage proper growth and uniform fruit set on your blueberry plants. One of the advantages of home garden blueberry plants is they seldom require spraying for insects or diseases in most areas of the state. Hey there, Rural Sprout reader, my name is Tracey, and Im so glad you popped over to my bio. Im a firm believer in self-sufficiency, no matter where you live, and the power and pride that comes from doing something for yourself. There should be a mix of around half and half old and new branches in your blueberry bush, with around eight branches altogether. Pruning also prevents over-cropping, increases berry size, and removes dead, diseased or insect-infested wood.Pruning is second only to hand harvest in terms of annual labor expense. in diameter with the plant in the center. Confused on how much sunlight your blueberry shrubs need to grow properly? Pruning any fruit-bearing plant seems to make most novice gardeners break out in a cold sweat. Look for and remove suckers that may have sprouted some distance from the main plant. . In this circular, how to fertilize blueberry plants is described with text, diagrams, and calculations to provide growers, Extension . Firm the soil after planting. I get conflicting information on the proper time to prune. Fruit buds grow at the very tips of the canes and are more rounded than leaf buds. As a blueberry plant ages, canes will grow from their thickest central point into smaller and smaller branches. It can be hard to remove the growth from a thriving bush, but it is important to remember that it is necessary for the health and vitality of the shrub. other major producers were Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, California, . In the second year, remove only dead or damaged branches. The varieties listed below are suggested for areas of South Georgia up through the Piedmont region. But when should they be pruned? Identify the main crown of the plant. Blueberry-growing presents a challenge because the plants require soils that are acid, well-drained, loose and high in organic matter. Crown this is the base of the bush, where the growth comes out of the ground. Not only that but they are meant to be cared for in a specific manner. Old canes to target for removal are larger and grayer in color, and are more likely to be covered with a fuzzy growth of foliose lichens. For one, it helps keep them looking nice. Your pruning efforts should also remove thinner and less productive branches, as well as those branches that are simply overgrown or misshapen. Pruning should be done during the dormant season. After establishment, rabbiteye blueberries require little pruning until they reach about 4 to 6 ft in height. This will let in more air and light while encouraging the bush to set new canes. If needed, remove one to three large canes from the center of the bush to reduce crowding, improve air circulation and phase out older canes. CARE AND MAINTENANCE. . If your blueberry bushes have been around a while, you have probably watched them grow, flower, produce fruit, and spread. encourage new growth of fruiting canes older canes produce less fruit, so we want to prune both to remove older growth and to encourage new growth as the bush ages. This will help your blueberry plants thrive, look great, and grow more fruit. The rates, timing, and type of fertilizer should be common knowledge for the grower. Regardless of your tool, its important to sterilize it before you begin cutting and once youve finished. To avoid reaching this stage, thin canes by making cuts to selectively remove clumps of twiggy, brushy-looking, matchstick-sized laterals. This will force new canes to develop from the base of the plant. In addition, excessively tall canes can be pruned back to 6 ft each winter. Duke blueberry plants need acidic soil in which to thrive. The best kind of blueberries are grown on two to four year old canes, ones that are older than this can be substantially weaker, resulting in unimpressive, smaller blueberries.'. At this time also cut (head back) any long whips or canes that are too tall. It also invigorates the plant, forcing essential new growth from the base of the plant. The wild blueberry is the official fruit of Maine. Once established, the bushes require annual care and pruning to ensure their overall health and continued fruit production. Jubilee and Magnolia are smaller fruited varieties with good plant vigor. Since blueberries have fairly thin branches, you may not need anything larger, like loppers. Are you looking for a dwarf fruit tree to place in a smaller garden area? Figure 9.1 One-year blueberry stem sections showing fruit buds (A) and leaf buds (B). Of course, now youll need some ideas on how to use all those delicious blueberries. Walk around the bush, noting any canes rubbing against each other, where more light might need to come into the center of the bush, scraggly new growth and the general size and shape of the plant. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. With basic tools, a little planning, and a bit of time and effort, your bushes will be in top form and ready for next seasons blueberry crop! This species often blooms later than rabbiteyes, so they may be useful for more freeze-prone sites in the mountains. (Photo source: Scott NeSmith, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org . Blueberries are a garden favorite, but there are definitely areas of your garden that will allow your shrubs to reach their full potential. The goal should be to move through the field rapidly by making large cuts close to the ground. Select a site with sun for at least one-half the day. The philosophy behind blueberry pruning is to constantly renew . Revised by D. S. NeSmith, Research HorticulturistOriginal manuscript by G.W. Leaving the thicker canes will also give you more berries in the long run. It also helps the bush look better. in diameter with the plant in the center. Put it into its container, burying it as deep as it was in its nursery pot. Fruit-wood these are canes that are capable of bearing fruit. Till 4 to 6 in. For blueberries, mid-winter is ideal, likely anytime from December through March . The mystery and art of pruning a bush is revealed. You should never prune the plant while its actively growing or setting fruit. You can tell the difference between fruit and leaf buds by their appearance and where theyre growing on the plant. April, May Plant new blueberry bushes. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen explains where you should be planting blueberries for the best results. If you prune plants like this the first year, the second year won't need much . The bush may be allowed to produce a few berries in year two, however the goal is still to promote vegetative growth that will build the structure of the bush for years to come. Use these tips for pruning blueberry bushes to keep your plants healthy and productive. Cultivated blueberries are upright, deciduous, woody perennials, forming multi-stemmed bushes with maximum unpruned heights varying from 6-8 feet (highbush, southern highbush) to 10-15 feet (rabbiteye). For more than a century, we've provided research and education through a You will still need to prune regularly because a blueberry plant in optimal conditions will continue to grow each year and will benefit from active management. This could be any time after leaf drop to late winter. Young bushes and dwarf blueberry bushes rarely require pruning. Freely prune these back to a thicker healthy cane stem. However, routine pruning should still remove to to 50 percent of the flower buds. I grew up spending weekends on my dads off-the-grid homestead. Cane these are what we call stems that are at least a year old. If the new plant has many canes prune out all but 1-3 of the best looking ones. A bowl left unattended on the counter, destined for jam or homemade blueberry syrup, will likely disappear before you can get the water bath canner ready. Just make sure your tools are sharp and sterilized. Make sure you plant them in an acidic soil of anywhere between 4.5 pH and 4.8 pH, as this is what they will need to grow and meet their full potential. A: Blueberries flower and fruit the heaviest on new limbs which grow horizontally. Plan out your blueberry patch by spacing your bushes 5 to 6 feet apart in a row. Planting. Phosphorous acid is a fungicide that may have other plant health-inducing properties. Find out what Extension has for you! Some examples of branches that should be pruned from the blueberry shrub include: Blueberries are densely growing shrubs with many small branches. Spacing recommendations for growing blueberries range from 12 inches between plants for lowbush blueberries to 12 feet between saskatoons. This spacing may seem excessive, but blueberry bushes . If you encourage them to produce fruit earlier, theyll be less productive in the following years. 4 min read. Blueberries require a lower pH than many other small fruit crops. Pruning will help them look their best and reach maximum productivity. However, many growers, particularly in colder regions, prefer to wait until late winter. When you're pruning your blueberry bush ensure to find the perfect balance of leaving a mix of old and new growth - only removing the parts of the plant that are overcrowded, dead or diseased. Besides keeping the taller types within reach for easier harvesting, youll get more and better berries if you keep them pruned. Plants that are not pot-bound can be planted directly without breaking up root system. Titan is a very new variety (released in 2011) and may take a little time to become widely available. Before pruning, ensure that any long, cold spells of winter weather have fully passed, you can then properly assess your plant and prune back any affected, dead sections, ready for a healthy growth in the spring. Theyre infinitely snackable. We were always busy. Ragged cuts can damage the bush, invite disease, and simply not look as nice. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Your goal should be to make a nice clean cut with each pruning. Thin the top slightly if the interior of the plant needs more light and air. Vernon also has large berries. Prune these low-lying canes back to their connection with a larger, more upright cane. Better Homes & Gardens - 100 years of powering your passions at home. In the current study, old, low-vigor 'Woodard' rabbiteye blueberries were. I get conflicting information on the proper time to prune. Apply fertilizer one month after planting, not at the time of planting. If you just have one or two shrubs, pruning to remove old sections of growth or those that are not as healthy will be the main requirement. [14] 3. This encourages strong root growth so it will become well-established and healthy. Keep weeds and grass away from plants. You should aim to remove 20% of the crowns oldest canes each year when removing old canes. Your primary goal is likely to keep your plants looking nice, while allowing you to harvest more blueberries next summer. By the sixth year they will yield as much as 2 gallons each and continue to increase as the plants get larger. deep with pine bark nuggets, pine straw or pine sawdust. Do not use any agriculture lime or potting mixes that have lime added (most commercial potting soils). Water the plants throughout the growing season when rainfall is not adequate. All cultivated species require annual pruning to manage bush height and shape. Pruning starts at the ground, not at the top of the bush. Youll also learn when to do it and how to do it. If you are just getting started with blueberries, you can even prune budding branches when you first set your plants in the ground. Hybrids will be somewhere in between. Palmetto is a medium sized berry that is noteworthy for its outstanding flavor. Where Will Blueberries Grow Best in Your Garden? Does Your Blueberry Plant Have Red Leaves? Tips on protecting your ornamentals from the cold. Steps in Winter Pruning (November - March) STEP ONE: Define the crown. Remove dead or dying parts of branches and less vigorous, spindly growth . Youll want to fertilize your blueberry bushes properly each spring. This allows the remaining canes better light and better air circulation, which leads to better fruiting. If you want to ensure your Lowbush Blueberry continues to yield a decent harvest and has a healthy bloom, pruning the shrub after harvesting every other year is recommended. Early season southern highbush will ripen 2 to 3 weeks before early rabbiteyes, and mid-season varieties will ripen 8 to 12 days before early rabbiteyes. . Blueberries grow on old wood, with the best fruits growing on twigs that are around two years old. By focusing the plants energy to the crown, growth and nutrients will be directed to the healthiest and strongest center canes closest to the crown. A set of sharp handheld pruning shears are really all you need. If youre new to pruning and maintaining small fruit crops, such as blueberries, youll likely encounter a few words you might be unfamiliar with. Mulching with pine bark or pine straw can increase the vigor of southern highbush. If you prune the plant during its active growing season, youre reducing the amount of energy the plant can make and store. Blueberries have a shallow, spreading root system and suckers can sprout up some distance from . However, if they have weak or broken stems, these should be removed. Transplant the same depth as the plants grew in the nursery. To apply, select a warmer day in the early spring, as the temperature helps bacteria decompose the sulfur. Q: I have over one hundred rabbiteye blueberry plants, some almost 20 years old, and they need pruning. Are you thinking of adding some blueberry shrubs to your garden, but want to make sure they'll come back each year before you start planting? Visualize a circle 12 to 18 inches in diameter around the crown of the bush, and remove ALL shoots of any age that have emerged from the ground outside the circle. Once plants reach 4-5 years old, prune them each winter by cutting out 3 to 4 of the largest, oldest canes, again remove any crossing, diseased, and low . Because overloading the bush with fruit in one year will stress the plant and cause reduced yields in following years and will eventually require even more severe pruning to bring the bush back into production. Remove all flowers from two-year-old plants to encourage root growth and ensure good establishment. Keep 2-3 year-old plants healthy by removing broken, diseased, crossing, or spindly growth. Blueberries produce their best fruit on growth from the previous season (one year old wood). Continue to increase the amount of fertilizer applied yearly until the bushes are 6 to 8 ft tall. "Head back" the upright "bull shoots" to the desired height to keep the bush from growing too tall. Do not over-fertilize; fertilizer damages young blueberries easily until they are established. Two of the newest varieties are Blue Suede and Summer Sunset. Its name refers to its tall stature. These crossover canes may touch several other branches and are considered less desirable to keep. As long as you are properly assessing the growth and cutting back only dead, damaged and unhealthy sections of the plant, your blueberry bush will grow to be strong, healthy and long-lasting. It may seem counterproductive to trim off so many branches, especially when you see them covered with dormant flower buds, but theres no need to worry. Young plants require little pruning for the first two to three years. Blueberry bushes are easy to grow and don't require much maintenance, but you'll get the best crops if you prune them regularly. Once you have selected the weakest, least desirable branches of the blueberry shrub, you can then move on to the next step. After harvest, go out and select for removal the oldest and tallest limbs on each plant. In a nutshell, pruning blueberries mostly involves removing weak and unproductive branches, keeping the center uncongested, and maintaining a manageable height. New strong canes will usually develop below the cut. The leaves collect energy from the sun for photosynthesis, which allows the plant to make and store the energy it needs to produce new canes and buds lots of blueberries. Remove low twiggy growth entirely and tip remaining shoots to remove all the flower buds (Figure 1). Over a period of four or 5 years, a new rejuvenated bush framework will be developed. Once its had a week to recover, go back and trim out any thin growth near the crown. What could be causing the leaves to turn colors when they normally should be healthy and green? Remember, blueberries require an acid soil. The blueberry plant is no exception, but there are important considerations when fertilizing blueberries. The standard spacing for rabbiteyes is 5 - 6 feet between plants as they can get large. Three- to four-year-old plants should have reached sufficient size to start bearing respectable crops. Dont let your plants bear more than a few clusters of fruit until they're at least three years old. Field Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Production, Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program, Additional Recommendations for Highbush Blueberries, Home Garden Series: Home Garden Muscadines, Fall Gardening: A Collection of Information and Resources, UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, UGA College of Family & Consumer Sciences. 946, The University of Georgia 2022 | All rights reserved. Blueberries are fruiting woody shrubs and their branches are often referred to as canes. Your goal with regular pruning should be to maintain a strong central crown and remove the weakest, smallest, and least productive branches. In a garden setting, pruning your plants can be a really good thing. Plant one blueberry bush per pot. You can, of course, use loppers if you already have them; they may be handy for pruning thicker branches and reaching into larger bushes. You probably will need to do pruning maintenance only once per year, unless you notice pests or diseases that need more immediate attention. Blueberry shrubs can be a great addition to any garden, so it's only natural to do your research. Some 44,000 hectares (110,000 acres) are farmed, but only half this acreage is harvested each year due to variations in pruning practices. Prune out all the dead, diseased wood. You can expect to regularly trim off many flower buds each time you prune, and you may wonder if thats okay. For most of us, this is sometime in February or March. 3. Refer to a sulfur application chart for exact amounts for your specific pH. The first time you prune will be after you plant a new blueberry bush in the ground. For anyone who loves blueberries, these fruiting shrubs are a rewarding addition to a sunny landscape. Pruning plan for young blueberry bushes: prune immediately after the bush has been planted, then remove fruiting buds for the first couple of years. If developing individual specimen plants give plants a 25 to 40 ft. Till the soil 8 to 12 in. They begin as long new growth that happens in late summer, starting out green and turning red-brown as they age. Come back every week for our latest tips on what to do in your yard. If blueberries are not pruned annually, they sometimes fall into a biennial bearing habit, and youll only get a crop every other year. Begin with diseased branches. This narrows the base of the bush to facilitate machine harvest, but is also a good general step for hand-harvested fields as well. You will see flower buds on the dormant branches, but dont worry about removing these. Horticulture. You want to plan on fertilizing them as they begin to set buds and well before the leaves are fully developed. Why? Hand pruners are good for most cuts. Your focus should be on developing healthy well-established plants, so simply examine your plants and remove any stems that are weak or crossing over each other. Avoid pruning after your harvest in summer and fall. Mature canes can be up to two inches in diameter, so long-handled loppers capable of cutting large stems are essential. Remove or cut back some of the lateral stems if necessary to open up the center to allow good air circulation. Make sure and purchase the type of blueberry most suitable to the intended growing area. Bath Adding fertilizer this early in the season gives the bushes plenty of time to absorb all of the nutrients. This native shrub is more of a groundcover, growing only one to two feet tall; it spreads by both seed and rhizomes to form dense patches. A sturdy pair of hand pruners such as these Corona pruners are perfect for pruning small shoots and thinner canes. If the site is excessively wet, plant on a raised bed 6 to 12 in. Mix wetted peat moss or milled pine bark with the soil in each planting hole (2 to 4 gallons depending on size of the hole). These are discouraged for use in the colder mountain regions of the state. On sites with heavier soils and where the pH is more difficult to maintain, plants can be fertilized with Osmocote Plus 15-9-12 at a rate of 2 ounces per plant per month from March 1 through Aug. 1. COPYRIGHT 2023 RURAL SPROUT | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, how to use all those delicious blueberries. Pruning allows you to control the growth pattern of your plants by selecting the healthiest and most robust canes that will ultimately produce the most fruit. Fresh blueberries are among our favorite summertime snacks. You may also notice that their berry productivity starts to wane over time. The type and amount of blueberry plant pruning, however, may depend on the type and size of the bush. Flower buds are readily visible during winter pruning, and it is tempting to leave too many. Blueberry crowns soon after they were ground down to a height of several inches. Pruning plan for older blueberry bushes: remove small, weaker growth at the crown, remove older canes to encourage new growth, and head large, new canes to slightly below the canopy. These old canes become unproductive; removing them opens up the center to air and light and stimulates new shoots that will bear the next years crop. Blueberries will reach full plant size and maximum fruit production sometime between six and 10 years old. At this time, remove dead and weak branches and thin, terminal wood with small buds. All Rights Reserved.The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran, Disability Institution.Privacy Policy | Accessibility Policy. This means any criss-crossing branches . STEP ONE:Define the crown. How Big Do Blueberry Bushes Actually Get? If youve ever collected wild blueberries on the side of the road or in the woods, then youre probably wondering why you need to prune the bushes growing in your garden. Crossovers are canes that may meander and tangle through the bush. When growing blueberries in containers, you will prune them in much the same way, except when they need to be repotted. There are actually plenty of small fruit trees you can plant, depending on your hardiness zone. The new growth for each variety will be stronger and yield more berries when pruned in this way. However, if they have weak or broken stems, these should be removed. Prune back 2/3 of the top growth on bare root plants, and of the top growth on potted plants. Dip the shears in disinfectant. Again, newer varieties are listed in bold. On 3- and 4-year-old plants, remove low spreading branches and excessively twiggy growth with too many flower buds. When planting, make sure to plant your blueberry bushes at the same level they were planted in the container and water well after planting. Rates of up to 0.7 lbs per 100 square feet can be used yearly, if needed. Highbush blueberry, a native of North America, grows six to 12 feet tall and is the major blueberry-producing species in commerce. Among other things, they are high in antioxidants, have anti-aging activity, promote healthy urinary tracts, improve vision and help fight heart disease. This is a mistake! For the home gardener desiring something unique, edible ornamental blueberries have been developed recently to offer the opportunity to "surround yourself with flavorful beauty." You will also encourage more lateral growth, which means more berries. Pruning established Blueberry plants can increase fruit yields and the health of your plant. They are too small and will be crowded out by the thicker canopy overhead. If your soil tests very high in phosphorus, use 12-4-8. If repotting and trimming the roots, prune the bush back by about 50-60%. The crown will include the main canes that originate from the root mass at the center of the plant. What remains is a narrower bush consisting of the most upright canes. Plant your Duke blueberry plants in the spring after the last frost. Last updated: January 8, 2023 | Lets tackle that first. In March and July of the second year apply 2 ounces of 10-10-10 or 12-4-8 or 3 to 4 ounces of azalea special fertilizer (4-8-8). Blueberry bushes are very resilient plants and benefit greatly from regular pruning. Blueberry bushes often require supplemental fertilization, . Wear the gloves while pruning to protect your hands. Apply wettable sulfur (90% S) if pH is above 5.3 for rabbiteye blueberries or 5.0 for highbush blueberries.
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