How to Grow Blueberries in Arkansas

Locate a prime growing area for blueberries. It must be a sunny area, receiving at least 8 to 10 hours of direct sun rays daily. An ideal soil is sandy loam rich in organic matter with a pH between 4.8 and 5.5, according to the University of Arkansas Extension Service. Clay soils work as long as they are acidic, do not flood or remain soggy after rains and are amended with organic matter to improve the soil profile and texture.

Plant the blueberry shrub either in autumn or early spring. Dig the planting hole the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container, but two to three times as wide. Incorporate 1 to 2 gallons of acidic peat into the soil that was removed from the planting hole. Use this amended soil to back-fill the planting hole around the shrub's root ball. Water the plant to moisten the soil to a depth of 12 inches, which helps eliminate air pockets and brings soil particles in direct contact with plant roots.

Scatter a 4 to 6 inch layer of organic mulch over the soil in the blueberry planting bed. The cooperative extension service suggests using pine straw, wood chips or sawdust from trees known to produce acidic compost like pines and oaks. The best mulch is a blend of wood chips and sawdust. Maintain this mulch layer year round to acidify the soil, deter weed growth and help the soil retain moisture.

Prune away flower buds in spring on plants the first and second years after planting. Trim off the buds with hand pruners. Eliminating the flowers and subsequent fruits the first two years after planting allows the root system to grow extensively, improving the plant's health and vigor. In the third spring, allow the plant to flower and produce its first crop.

Prune away any dead or broken branches any time of year. Make the pruning cut 1/4 to 1/2 inch above a lower branch junction, leaf or dormant bud.

Monitor the soil moisture in the blueberry bed by pulling back mulch and feeling the soil with your fingers. Blueberries do not grow their best in dry soil, so irrigate as needed to maintain an evenly moist soil. Supplement natural rainfall and pay particular attention to watering plants during droughts and during the heat of summer.

Toss a netting mesh over the blueberry shrub in late spring to prevent hungry birds from reaching the berries. The fruits do not ripen all at the same time. The clusters will include an array of plump, dark ripe berries and those that are still swelling and ready for picking anytime in the following 1 to 4 weeks. After harvesting ends, remove the netting to use next year. Leaving the netting on creates problems, as the twigs grow through the mesh, making removal problematic.