Anyone with blueberry bushes??

[Ron Young]

I was wondering if any beeks on here also had blueberry bushes? I have two, unfortunately they were hit hard over Easter with a freeze, and are not producing this year. However, I was wondering if anyone could give me some pruning advice? I have never had blueberry bushes, just relied on wild berries. My bushes need pruned and I have never done it.

1. How much to cut?

2. When?

3. Shape?


Any pointers would be nice.

Thanks

[iddee]

The man who owns the garden where my bees are is a landscape expert and has about 50 blueberry bushes. Whenever you want to come down, we will go over and talk to him.

[davpress]

this is from Ohio State's website, link at bottom


1. Visually observe the blueberry bush.
2. Imagine what the plant should look like when pruning is completed.
3. All diseased and broken canes should be removed first.
4. Canes that are seven years old or older should be considered for removal.
5. No more than two to three mature canes should be removed each year to avoid pruning out too many fruit buds.
6. Selective pruning will help to stimulate new cane growth each year.
7. Remove branches that are touching and any dead twigs.
8. The bush should be: a) narrow at base, b) open in the center, and c) free of vegetative clutter.


http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1430.html

[Jeffzhear]

I drive by a blueberry farm everyday, and have always noticed how nice and pruned the farmer keeps them. There must 25 acres of blueberries. Not until your post did I really consider pruning my 7 bushes...

I think I'll look for a book on pruning blueberries on ebay. Maybe I never considered it because the yield off my bushes is tremendous...

[bluegrass]

Cut them back in early winter to the shape you want. About half is usually as far as I would go. Also if you drink coffee save the grounds and mix them into water and water them once every few weeks with it.

[Jeffzhear]

Bluegrass, thanks for the tips. I will start doing that ASAP. I also pour a few buckets of sawdust from my mill around each bush in the spring, the bushes like the acidity...

[nursebee]

Before listening to someone from Kentucky, consider what kind of berries he might be growing relative to what you are growing. Are they rabbiteye (I suspect), lowbush, or highbush? Also consider that they likely fruit on this years growth, so pruning now will decrease your fruit next year.

Why are you pruning? The only reason I prune mine is when there is a dead stalk or too much low growth that interferes with my weed management.

I have been on a few large blueberry farms in early spring and not seen signs of pruning.

I have spoken with a grower near me (maybe 20 well yielding bushes) he says he has not pruned or fed his plants.

[Kelbee]

I don't recall where this reference came from but I have it in my notes and it's what I use for my few bushes.

Pruning blueberries:
None needed first 3 years.
After 2-3 years should get 12-18 inches new growth/year.
Thereafter, prune annually during dormant period.
Remove low, weak branches (branches less than 6") and old branches (any canes over 2" diameter). Goal is to leave 12 canes per plant with a mix of canes of different ages.

[bluegrass]

Before saying anybody is from kentucky you should ask them if they are; I may live in Kentucky, but I sure as hell am not from here:D
The coffee is used for the same reason as the sawdust; pine needles work well too. The coffee is just a faster dilivery.

[Mabe]

;)Our blueberry bushes are pruned yearly by the whitetail deer and yield prodigiously!

[berkshire bee]

check out www.gardenweb.com
It's a forum similar to this for gardeners. There are forums on every kind of flower,vegetable, fruit and herb you can think of, plus questions and answers on all sorts of tools. I went there for advice on fixing a troybilt tiller and was guided through the repairs. Like Beesource, it's a great bunch of people.

[cdanderson]

I've had my blue berries for about 7 years and have never pruned them except to top them if it seems they are getting to tall for me to reach the fruit. I'm sure you can prune them to make them prettier but I dont think you have to do it.

[davpress]

pruning blueberries bushes makes them more productive, ie. more and bigger berries.

If not pruned, evently they will become unproductive, and produce few or no berries.

David