The Care & Maintenance of Blueberry Plants

Location

• One of the most important requirements for blueberry bushes is location. Blueberries require full, bright sun for six to eight hours every day and an elevated, exposed position that gets full drainage at all times.

Soil

• Blueberries prefer acidic, moist soils that provide both loose growing foundations and plenty of nutrition. Mix generous amounts of organic compost and peat into the soil at planting to achieve the necessary acidity.

Mulch and Water

• Blueberry bushes do best when they're mulched immediately after planting, to discourage weeds and maintain soil moisture. Gardeners use 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch year-round for healthy blueberry plots.

  Blueberries need 1 to 2 inches of water a week, and prefer consistency in their waterings. Their shallow root systems make changing water supplies dangerous for both growth and fruiting.

Protection

• Birds are one of the most aggressive pests when it comes to blueberry bushes, due largely to the sweet, juicy berries of the harvest. Gardeners regularly grow blueberry bushes under nets to protect them from scavenging birds during their fruiting.