112 How to Prune Blueberries | Arts Nursery Ltd

Q. How to Prune Blueberries

I have five blue berry bushes and want your advice on when and how to prune bushes for next season Thank you

A.

Pruning blueberries is quite straightforward.
First, wait to prune until the plant is dormant in the late fall or early winter before new growth begins. Next, prune away the 3 D's. In other words, remove any Dead, Damaged or Diseased wood. You may also want to remove crossing or congested branches. Try to prune in a way that increases light penetration and air circulation within the plant. After this is complete, we can get into the strategic part of pruning.
Blueberries grow canes that later produce branches and side-shoots. Berries are produced on tips of side-shoots that formed last year. In other words, fruit develops on 1 year old wood. The most productive wood is between 1-3 years of age. Wood that is older than 4 years old will begin to decline in productivity. As a result, your goal should be to maximize the amount of 2-3 year old wood. While you can cut back hard every couple of years, we find you'll get better results if you prune 1/3 of the plant every year. This creates a cycle of new growth every year. 

 

Posted: 12/12/2017 12:00:00 AM
Author: Mike
Location: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Tags: blueberries, pruning, pruning blueberries, pruning vaccinium

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