How to prune blueberries

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organic gardening / articles / How to prune blueberries

How to prune blueberries

Apr 22, 2011 - Charlotte from Peaceful Valley

Want your blueberry bush to be strong and fruitful? Prune it according to these guidelines.

The best time to prune your blueberry is in late winter, before it sets blossoms.

NEW PLANT

* Snip off any old, spindly growth. You want all the energy to go into the new growth.
* Pick off blossoms the first spring, to conserve the plant’s energy.

TWO YEARS IN YOUR GARDEN

Institute good, regular pruning practices:

* Cut off dead branches (as soon as you see them)
* Cut off and discard diseased branches (as soon as you see them)
* Cut off twiggy or weak growth

THIRD YEAR IN YOUR GARDEN

Continue your pruning practices and begin your long-term focus on regenerating the bush

* Cut off suckers at the base of the bush
* Cut off lower branches if the weight of fruit will push them to the ground
* Take out 1 or 2 of the oldest canes at ground level or a healthy side branch
* If the crown is producing new canes, cut off all but 2
* Cut off branches that cross others

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?

*If your blueberry is fruiting like mad (overbearing) and sending up lots of new shoots, send the plant a message by cutting off some branch tips.

IS YOUR BLUEBERRY IN TROUBLE?

* Once you have solved the problem (lack of fertilizer or adequate irrigation, overbearing, for instance) you can rejuvenate the bush by cutting off 1/3 of the canes each year for 3 years.

See good pruning practices put into action in this drawing

Thank you to Growing Blueberries in the Sacramento Region by Chuck Ingels, Sacramento County Farm Advisor, our source for the diagram and much good information.

For additional information on blueberry care see our video, blog posts on blueberries and our Growing Guide. Cornell University offers sound blueberry insight as well.

Categories: Berry Plants, Blueberry Bush, Pruning & Cutting Tools, Pruners, Edible Landscaping

Skip Landry Says:

Apr 23rd, 2011 at 8:52 pm

I have 12 blueberry plants 4 different varieties they have been in the ground for
3 years going on 4. There is a pretty good crop on for this year and I had a good crop last year. Last year they only produced a minimal amount of new shoots this year they have not produced any.
Have any ideas as to what is going on or not going on ??????

Skip

Kalita Says:

Apr 26th, 2011 at 2:25 pm

Hi Skip If you had good crops this year and last you are doing a good job with your blueberries. Be sure to give them the fertilizer recommended in the article. As long as your bushes have enough nutrients but not too much they will continue to produce. It is possible that a cold snap may have reduced the amount of new shoots this year. Kalita

janet214 Says:

Apr 27th, 2011 at 10:11 am

Hi
I bought some new blueberries from you guys this year an have pinched off the flowers. Should I prune them so they get bushier. Right now they are leggy and thin.

Charlotte Says:

May 5th, 2011 at 11:12 am

Janet University experts differ slightly. Cornell says just to pinch the flowers the first 2 years. UC Davis says to snip off old twiggy growth at the base of the plant in the first year.

How To Plant Grow & Prune Blueberries | One Says:

May 6th, 2011 at 1:02 am

[...] in the winter). Here is a blueberry growing guide (PDF) for additional information a great post on how to prune blueberries and more detailed instructions for pruning [...]

mark mastro Says:

Nov 11th, 2012 at 11:33 am

my plants are about 4 years old. I only have three plants, plenty for me. I have one shoot way above the rest. Could you tell me what to do with it. I’m in a wheelchhhair and can’t reach that high.

Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:

Jan 18th, 2013 at 6:21 pm

Mark, Have someone prune the too-tall bush down to an easy-to-reach level and then keep it that height with late winter pruning each year. If it slows production from that pruning, consider replacing it with one of the shorter blueberries: Top Hat or Sunshine Blue. Hope this advice is helpful!

Becky C. Says:

Apr 1st, 2013 at 6:14 am

Is it too late to prune now? We have had mostlt cold weather in Ohio, including snow as late as last week. My husband says too late now though. What do you think?

Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:

Apr 1st, 2013 at 1:49 pm

Becky, You can certainly prune if it has not set blossoms. If it has already set blossoms you can still prune off the dead growth without risk to the bush.