Care of Wild Blueberry Bushes

Care of the Wild Blueberry

• If you haven't planted your wild blueberry bush yet, do it in early spring, unless you live in an area where winters are mild. If that's the case, you can plant your wild blueberry in the fall.

  You'll need a spacious area of at least 4 feet per single bush. If you're planting several bushes to create a hedge, place them closer to each other, about 3 feet apart.

  Water your bush right after planting and frequently so the soil stays moist. However, keep an eye on drainage conditions. If water starts to pool around the bush, you have either overwatered or your soil drains poorly. Let it dry completely before giving the plant more water. Otherwise, the roots will rot and the bush will die.

  Because the blueberry bush has roots near the ground surface, protect them by applying a 3-inch layer of mulch around your plant. It will also help conserve soil moisture and choke some of the weeds.

  To keep your blueberry growing steadily, prune the branches regularly. If you don’t, your plant could become overwhelmed with berries and stop thriving. A good idea is to pinch the flowers off your wild blueberry bush the first year it blooms to keep it from producing berries. Your bush will then develop a little more strength before bearing fruit for the first time.

  You'll find the biggest pest problem you'll have will be the birds. If you'd like a turn at savoring your berries, cover the bush with netting.