How to Prune Blueberries

Blueberry bushes are usually planted in rows on slightly terraced ridges. This allows good water runoff and enables easy fruit picking. The biggest mistake in private blueberry groves is the failure to prune them. If you fail to prune blueberry bushes, the fruit will consistently get smaller, sparser and lose flavor. Correctly pruned bushes will produce a larger, sweeter fruit. It is essential to encourage the growth of strong, new wood to support heavier fruit.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large pruning shears
• Small garden clippers
• Gardening gloves

1. The best time to prune blueberries is during the dormant season. This may vary slightly based on your region so double check with local nurseries and orchards for their recommendations. Generally, the dormant time for blueberry bushes is from January to March. Consistent, yearly pruning is necessary to maintain healthy bushes. Otherwise, sporadic pruning leads to offshoots of wood branches that bear no fruit. However, when these are removed, the plant can be shocked and die.

2. Cut off the branches lowest to the ground. Look for branches that will be easily weighed down and touch the ground when the blueberries are ripe.

3. Look for small branches and offshoots of the blueberry bush that have been damaged, either by freezing in the winter, disease or bugs. If any of the shoots did not bear fruit the previous year, remove them as well.

4. Remove excess twigs from the center of the plant. It is essential to let the sun reach the interior of the plant for the best blueberry crop.

5. Thin out some of the shoot with numerous blueberry buds at the tips. A common problem in blueberry groves are bushes that bear many tiny berries, instead of large, heavy, sweet berries. This pruning will allow more nutrients to get to the remaining buds to produce better, larger fruit.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware of poisonous vines like poison oak or ivy. These will start at the base and work their way into the bush, making it almost impossible to remove without cutting down the entire bush. Left untouched, these vines prevent you from harvesting blueberries in the summer. Look for and remove any extra weeds and vines as they appear at the base of the plants.

Resources

• Oregon State University Extension Research