Tools to Prune Blueberry Bushes

Hand Pruners

• Bypass hand pruners are the best tool to use for thin branches less than a half inch. Its design lets you get close in to narrow spots to get a clean cut without damaging nearby branches. Do not use an anvil pruner as it does not make as clean a cut as bypass pruners. It tends to crush the branch and may damage the bark, which can introduce problems for your blueberry bush.

Loppers

• Bypass loppers are similar to bypass pruners except that they can cut branches up to 1 to 2 inches thick, depending on the model and your hand strength. They also have long handles so you can get good leverage and easily reach in to interior canes on large bushes. They make clean cuts and may be the only tool you need for the job.

Pruning Saw

• When removing old large canes at the very base of the plant, a pruning saw might be the right tool if the canes are too thick for pruners or loppers. Sometimes a pruning saw is necessary to get better access to large branches. Pruning saws are fine-toothed or coarse-toothed. A fine-toothed saw is appropriate for a blueberry bush.

Pruning Stick

• A pruning stick is an ergonomic alternative to any of the other tools. It is a pole approximately 5 feet long with a rotating cutting blade at the end that can be set to nearly any angle. You activate the cutting mechanism from the base of the handle or midway on the pole. Although it is primarily used for overhead tree branches, it is especially useful at ground level to make cuts without bending. It has a cutting capacity of 1 1/4 inch. If you have a lot of bushes to prune, this tool would be a big help to make the job easier.