Blueberry Bushes: Tips and Tricks to High Fruit Production, and Knowing When to Trim Them

Blueberry bushes are easy to grow, and some types make attractive hedges or specimen plants with their delicate, white or pink flowers in spring and their pest-resistant foliage, which turns a striking red or maroon in fall. Getting the highest fruit production depends on planting the right blueberry varieties on the right site. The major types of blueberry bushes are lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium), highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) and rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei).

Choosing the right blueberry variety for your climate is essential for a bountiful harvest. Northern varieties of highbush blueberries thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7, while southern highbush varieties have a low chill requirement, and grow well in USDA zones 7 through 10. Rabbiteye blueberry bushes also grow well in southern regions in zones 7 through 9, while lowbush varieties are hardy in northern areas in zones 3 through 7.

Blueberry bushes grow well in sun or part shade, but the highest blueberry production is obtained in full sun. Make sure the soil does not dry out in sunny locations and remains at the correct acidity for blueberries. Watering to maintain soil moisture is essential the first year after planting and during times of drought, because blueberry bushes have shallow roots.

Do a soil test before you plant your blueberry bushes to determine the pH of your soil. Blueberries like a pH between 4 and 5.5, which is acidic. If your soil pH is too high, mixing sulfur into the first 6 inches of soil before you plant will help to lower the pH. Organic matter such as peat moss or humus also will help lower the pH. A soil test every two or three years will tell you if you need to add more amendments to keep your acid-loving plants happy.

To increase fruit production, plant more than one variety of blueberry bush to allow for cross-pollination. Many blueberry varieties are self-fruiting, but cross-pollination increases the production and size of blueberries. You can extend the harvesting season by using multiple blueberry varieties, if their maturity dates are different.

Birds can strip blueberry bushes of most of their berries even before the berries are fully ripe. To protect your harvest, use bird-proof netting to cover each bush. However, netting may get tangled up in blueberry branches and make it difficult to harvest the berries. A removable framework designed to fit over blueberry bushes, made up of rods, pipes or wood with attached bird-proof netting, is a better solution. Make sure there are no openings where birds can get in.

Pruning invigorates blueberry bushes, and increases fruit quality and size. The best time to prune is in late winter, near the end of the dormant season. You can cut lowbush blueberries down to the ground every few years. Don't cut down all your lowbush varieties at one time, because it will take two years for the new growth to produce. Begin pruning highbush and rabbiteye blueberry bushes annually three years after planting. Blueberry production declines when branches or canes are about six years old, so prune out old branches first. Cut them down to the ground, or down to vigorous side shoots. Next, remove all diseased, broken, dead and crossing branches. Thin branches to increase air circulation, especially in the center of the blueberry bush. To decrease the height, cut off the top third of canes.