Did you have a great blueberry season this summer? We had so many berries that we were able to share some with our neighbors!
The best time to prune blueberry bushes is after the harvest, but only if necessary. Until they get older, most bushes need very little pruning. Generally blueberry bushes can be kept at a height of about 5 feet, which is also the perfect height for picking! You might consider simply pruning back the oldest central stem to about two feet, every couple of years or so. Doing this will promote new growth within the lower part of the plant.
The primary reason for pruning blueberries is to ensure beneficial picking height and to promote the growth of new wood. Allowing blueberries to grow over the years without pruning them, will force most of the fruiting toward only the upper areas of the plant, which might eventually be too hard to reach. The first week in August is the latest time to prune, so get it done now, and get ready for next years crop!
Did you have a great blueberry season this summer? We had so many berries that we were able to share some with our neighbors!
The best time to prune blueberry bushes is after the harvest, but only if necessary. Until they get older, most bushes need very little pruning. Generally blueberry bushes can be kept at a height of about 5 feet, which is also the perfect height for picking! You might consider simply pruning back the oldest central stem to about two feet, every couple of years or so. Doing this will promote new growth within the lower part of the plant.
The primary reason for pruning blueberries is to ensure beneficial picking height and to promote the growth of new wood. Allowing blueberries to grow over the years without pruning them, will force most of the fruiting toward only the upper areas of the plant, which might eventually be too hard to reach. The first week in August is the latest time to prune, so get it done now, and get ready for next years crop!