How to Dig Up Blueberry Bushes to Transplant

Blueberry bushes grow best in acidic soils.

Blueberry bushes not only produce ripe and sweet berries, but they also have a lush and attractive foliage. Blueberries require a lot of care and must be planted in the proper location so the plants remain healthy. Before blueberry bushes are removed from the ground, you must select a new location that will keep the bushes healthy. Transplant the bushes in the fall once the leaves drop for best results.

Things You'll Need

• Wettable sulfur or aluminum sulfate
• Shovel
• Plastic bag
• Peat moss

Instructions

1. Determine a new location for the transplant before you dig up the blueberry bush. Blueberries need a soil pH level around 4.8 to survive. The application of wettable sulfur or aluminum sulfate can help adjust soil levels, but you need to read the directions to ensure that you apply it properly. Avoid transplanting the blueberry bush until three months after adjusting the pH level to give the soil time to reach the proper level.

2. Inspect the location to ensure that it receives around six to eight hours of sunlight a day. The location also needs to remain isolated from other shrubs or plants so that they do not compete for nutrients.

3. Insert a shovel around the base of the blueberry plant carefully to determine where the roots are located. Work the shovel into the soil all the way around the bush so that you have a diameter outlined.

4. Dig around the blueberry bush in a circle around the roots. Insert the shovel under the roots to lift the blueberry plant out of the ground. Work the shovel in under the roots carefully until you loosen the blueberry bush. Remove as many of the roots as possible.

5. Wrap a plastic bag around the root ball of the bush to keep it moist. Store the blueberry bush in a location away from freezing weather where the roots will remain moist, such as the garage.

6. Space the blueberry bushes at least 4 feet apart. Dig a new hole large enough for the roots to fit. The top roots must remain 3 to 4 inches under the soil. Pack the soil around the roots firmly with the shovel and place a 2-inch layer of peat moss around the blueberry bush.

7. Water the soil after you transplant the bush. Water the bush to keep the soil moist until it becomes established in its new location.

Tips & Warnings

• Test the pH level in soil with a soil pH testing kit at your local garden supply store or take a sample of the soil to your local cooperative extension office.

• A transplanted blueberry bush may not produce berries during the first year.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension; Blueberries for Home Landscapes; Emily Hoover, et al.; 2009
• "Garden Wise"; Transplanting Blueberry Plants; Carolyn Jones
• North Carolina State University; Growing Blueberries in the Home Garden; Charles M. Mainland, et al.; November 2002
• Clemson University; Blueberry; Bob Polomski, et al.; November 1999