How to Plant Blueberry Shrubs

Blueberry shrubs provide beautiful year-long colors to any yard.

The blueberry shrub is very popular because of the beautiful colors it has year long. The leaves on the blueberry plant start a bronze color and then as it matures the leaves turn a rich dark green color. The leaves turn yellow and red in the fall and the stems remain bright in the winter. In the springtime, tiny white and pink flowers bloom and in the summer the bright blue colors from the blueberries emerge. The blueberry shrub grows best in cool, moist, acidic soils. They grow well in USDA Hardiness Zones three to seven. The USDA Hardiness Zones are designed to let gardeners know which climate a plant grows well in. The shrub grows round and can reach six to ten inches high and two to fifteen feet wide.

Things You'll Need

• Blueberry plant shrub
• Hand shovel
• Water
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Before planting the blueberry shrub, make sure you pick an area that gets full sun. Blueberry plants grow best with full sunlight.

2. The site for the shrub must also drain well. If the water does not drain from the site properly, the roots will suffocate.

3. Dig a hole that is big enough for all the roots as well as deep enough for the top three to four inches of roots to be covered by dirt. If you are planting more than one blueberry shrub, space the plants at least three feet apart so they have room to grow.

4. Cover the roots with the soil and pack the soil firmly. Add about two inches of mulch to the surface of the plant. Mulch on the surface of the plant helps with uniform moisture and protects the roots from heat in the summer. Make sure to replenish the mulch as needed.

5. Water the blueberry shrub frequently in order to keep the soil moist. Be careful not to saturate the plant with water.

Tips & Warnings

• Before planting a blueberry shrub, it is important to test the acidity level of the soil. Blueberry shrubs will only grow if the soil has a pH level of 4.5 to 5.5. If the soil does not have the proper soil acidity level, consult the local garden center for help.

References

• Sunset Magazine
• National Gardening Association