How to Care for Top Hat Blueberries

Water the Top Hat blueberry bush daily or every other day during the spring, summer and fall. Container grown blueberry bushes dry out faster and will need more frequent waterings. Check the soil around the plant daily to ensure the soil is moist to the touch. Reduce watering to once a week during the winter months.

Add the recommended amount of a 16-8-8 commercial fertilizer to the soil once a month throughout the growing season. Scratch into the soil around the base of the plant, using a hand spade. Sprinkle the fertilizer into the scratch marks.

Place the Top Hat blueberry plant in an area where it will receive six hours of sunlight daily. Blueberry bushes tend to thrive best in areas where they receive morning sun and some afternoon shade.

Prune dead or dying branches from the blueberry bush in the winter when the plant is dormant, using hand pruners. After the bush is 3 years old, cut off two of the oldest branches to maintain its compact shape.

Bring container-grown blushes into an unheated room when outdoors temperatures begin to freeze. Alternatively, dig a hole with a garden shovel and place the container in the ground. Cover the top of the container with soil and 2 inches of mulch. Cover Top Hat blueberry bushes planted directly in the ground with 3 to 4 inches of mulch.