How to Prune Northblue Blueberries

The "Northblue" blueberry bush is one of the few varieties that thrive in below-freezing temperatures. Although they're fairly resilient plants, they need regular maintenance and annual pruning, just like their warm-weather cousins. As with many fruit-bearing plants, you should prune your blueberries in early winter, when the plant is dormant. Pruning your Northblue blueberries annually will encourage good health, new growth and greater fruit production so you can enjoy fresh blueberries for years to come.

Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Examine your Northblue blueberry bushes in early winter and decide which stems you should remove while pruning and shaping. Look for old, dead, dying or crisscrossing canes as candidates for removal. Also consider the bush's final shape when making your plan.
- 2
  Clip away any dead branches. These will have no foliage and they will be very brittle. Remove canes that are broken or are rubbing against each other. Crisscrossing canes can rub away the bark, and broken canes will not heal properly, making them susceptible to disease.
- 3
  Choose two to three of the oldest canes on the bush and remove them. When searching for old canes, remember that the wider they are, the older they are. Older canes produce less fruit, and removing a few encourages new growth.
- 4
  Shape the bush with your pruning shears. Blueberry bushes should look like loosely shaped cones, with the narrow part at the base, but be open in the center. If you find that the canes are really condensed, thin a few of them out. This will improve sun exposure and air circulation.

The Size of a Blueberry Bush

How to Propagate Blueberries at Home

Growing Blueberries