How Big Is a Blueberry Bush Root Ball?

Root Ball

• If the blueberry bush comes with the bottom of the plant covered in soil and tied in a burlap sack, this is considered a bare root bush, and there will not be a root ball. If the blueberry bush comes in a container, it will have a root ball.
  When extracting the bush from the container, the mass at the bottom of the bush that is a mix of roots and soil is called the root ball.

Purpose

• The root ball functions as the nutritional delivery system for the blueberry bush. Attention to the size of the root ball is essential in preparing for planting, because the bush must not only be supported, but must also have enough room for the bush's shallow roots to work and breathe.

Size

• The size of the root ball will vary with the variety and age of the bush. Typically, the root ball of a blueberry bush ranges in size from 6 inches to 12 inches in diameter.

How to Prepare the Root Ball to Transplant in Soil Beds

• When transplanting the blueberry bush to a soil bed, the hole should be about 2 feet deep and should be twice the width of the root ball. For example, a blueberry bush with a 6 inch root ball would require a hole that is 2 feet deep and 12 inches wide; a blueberry bush with a 12 inch root ball would require a hole that is 2 feet deep and 24 inches wide.

How to Prepare the Root Ball to Transplant in Containers

• Blueberry bushes are well-suited for container gardening, but care of the root ball is extremely important because of the restrictive nature of the container and the growing tendencies of the plant. The roots of blueberry bushes planted in containers tend to grow from the center of the root ball out toward the sides of the container. Though blueberry bushes are cold-tolerant, the roots are more tender than the actual plant, and are more sensitive to temperature change. The closer the roots to the outside of the container, the more susceptible they are to cold.

  When transplanting into containers, select a large container of approximately 12 to 24 inches deep and 24 inches in diameter, to accommodate the root ball and insulate the growing roots. The root ball needs to be loosened before transplant.