How to Plant Blueberries in the South

Plant blueberries in mid- to late-winter to give the plants time to establish and grow before the heat of summer hits. The timing will depend on location and may range from January in zone 8 areas like Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to February or March in zone 7 areas like Fayette, Alabama.

Find sites where the blueberries will get bright sun for six to eight hours every day, with good drainage around their roots and lots of air circulation. Plant at least two blueberry cultivars to guarantee a blueberry harvest and give the plants 5 feet of space in the row.

Dig into the top 1 foot of soil in each site to prepare it for planting. Mix 6 to 8 inches of organic compost into the soil to loosen it and add nutrition. Blueberries need rich, acidic soil that is high in organic matter and fail in unamended soil.

Plant blueberries so that the tops of their root balls are just below the soil surface. This gives the bushes access to air, water and warmth for growing.

Water each bush with 1 gallon of water to settle the soil in around the roots, then lay 3 inches of organic mulch around the plant to prevent freezing or drying. Use acidic materials like sawdust, wood chips, bark, leaves or grass clippings for blueberries; as the mulch breaks down, it will add more nutrition to the soil.