How to Prune Blueberry Plants

Remove any dead, dying or diseased canes (stems) first. Use pruning shears for younger, thinner canes, and a hand saw for older or heavier canes.

Remove all fruit buds if the blueberry plant is within its first two years of growth. According to the University of Tennessee, young blueberries should not be allowed to fruit for the first two years, as this can stunt their growth. Fruit buds are found on the tips (first 3 inches) of the canes, and are rounder and larger than the pointed vegetative buds, which should not be pruned.

Remove canes that are growing low to the ground, around the base of the bush. These canes are hampered by the more vigorous canes above, receive less sunlight, and invariably will produce lower yields of fruit, so it is best to remove them and let the blueberry plant use the energy elsewhere.

Remove three or four of the older canes growing in the center of the plant. This is to help promote new growth in the plant, as well as to free up the crown so that sunlight and air can pass easily through the bush.

Remove the majority of the small, twiggy canes growing on the ends of the larger canes: blueberries grow best on the larger, heavier canes, so these small twig-like shoots will only suck the blueberry plant's energy, without contributing to the fruiting of the plant.