Key Points
Prune blueberry bushes in winter to shape growth and improve air flow while dormant.Prune according to the bush’s age to build strong roots early and renew fruiting canes later.Pruning boosts berry size and health by focusing energy on productive growth.
Growing blueberry bushes in your garden requires patience and careful pruning to produce the best harvest. However, it’s worth the effort for these delicious fruits—and who doesn’t love a homemade blueberry smoothie or muffin?
This guide outlines when and how to prune a blueberry bush to help you produce bumper crops of delicious, plump fruit for decades to come.
When to Prune Blueberry Bushes
Prune blueberry bushes annually between December and March during their dormant period. This task should be done after the shrub has shed its leaves and before its flower buds open. Pruning months vary depending on your climate and the blueberry bush variety.
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How to Prune Blueberry Bushes
How you prune blueberry bushes depends on the age of the shrub. Below are instructions for each stage of growth.
Pruning Young Blueberry Bushes
Pruning your blueberry bush’s shoots at planting and in year one is more severe to promote root development during establishment.
Inadequate pruning during this time will result in stunted growth and poor fruit yields in the future.
Use the 1/3 rule for pruning shrubs and cut back each cane by about 1/3 to 1/2.
Remove all flower buds to conserve energy for root growth.
Remove branches that form on the top of vigorous shoots growing in the crown of the bush (these are called whips).
For year two, if the plant is still relatively small, repeat steps 1 to 3.
If the canes reach 3 feet tall, leave some flower buds on the canes. Limit the buds to a maximum of 30. You don’t want the crop to be too heavy, or it could affect ongoing growth.
Pruning 3 to 5 Year-Old Blueberry Bushes
It’s all about encouraging healthy development and a uniform growth habit for your blueberry bush during years 3 to 5.
Remove lateral shoots (growing horizontally from year-old wood) that are low to the ground, broken, diseased, or weak. Remove poor-quality lateral shoots in the center of the bush. This ensures a good balance of vegetative and fruiting growth and better air circulation.
Pruning Established Blueberry Bushes
Once your blueberry bush is 5 to 7 years old, continue thinning out old canes. This helps make room for strong, new canes, prevents overcrowding, and lets in more light to maximize fruit yield.
Remove dead, damaged, diseased, crossing, or weak growth.Remove old canes at the bush’s base that are no longer producing fruit or would touch the ground when fruiting.Select at least two to three of the oldest, least productive canes to remove from where they emerge in the crown of the bush to promote continuous renewal and higher yields.Keep new canes from this year’s growth if they are strong and healthy.
Why You Should Prune Your Blueberry Bushes
The most plump and delicious blueberries are harvested from the upper half of the bush on the upright growth of 2- to 4-year-old canes.
Renewal pruning involves removing old, weak, and unproductive canes to encourage strong new growth and a more impressive yield.
Pruning also helps increase air circulation, which reduces the risk of disease and pest infestations, and lets in light to promote more vigorous growth.
4 More Blueberry Bushes Pruning Tips
Below are some extra handy blueberry bush pruning tips to keep in mind.
Don’t prune too early. Fall pruning can result in premature new shoot production, which will die off during the winter cold.Shaping the bush into a V shape means canes will receive better light penetration and air circulation.When branches are crossing and twisting with each other, remove the weaker of the two to allow the stronger to thrive.Don’t get carried away when pruning established blueberry bushes. If you are too severe, you’ll end up with a lot of new shoots and fewer berries for the next couple of years.
FAQ
Will blueberry bushes grow back after being cut down?
If you cut a healthy blueberry bush down, it will grow back, but keep in mind that it will take at least two years for it to produce fruit again.
Can you cut blueberry bushes to the ground?
Yes, you can cut blueberry bushes to the ground, but it will be several years before the shrub will start producing berries again. You may also need to prune more vigorously for the first few years to promote the healthiest growth.
How many years are blueberry bushes productive?
Blueberry bushes are long-lived shrubs that can bear fruit for 50 years or more when pruned prudently and offered the right conditions and care. They are also slow-growing—it typically takes them 7 to 10 years to reach their mature size.
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