How to Plant Blueberry Bushes in Containers

Planting Blueberries in a Container

• 1

  Drill drainage holes in the bottom of the container if it doesn't already have them.

• 2

  Place the container in its final location; it will be too heavy to move easily when you're done.

• 3

  Fill the container halfway with potting mix; tamp down.

• 4

  Take the blueberry bush out of the pot it came in and use your fingers to loosen the root ball (the combination of roots and soil in the pot). If the roots are too tightly intertwined, use a trowel to make 1-inch-deep cuts around the whole surface of the root ball.

• 5

  Place the root ball on the potting mix so that the plant is centered in the container. Check the height of the top of the root ball. The final soil level will be 3 inches lower than the rim of the pot, so add or remove potting mix now to get the root ball at the correct level.

• 6

  Fill the container all the way around the root ball, keeping the plant centered and straight and pressing down on the potting mix as you add it.

• 7

  Tamp down the potting mix and water thoroughly (until water comes out of the holes at the bottom of the container). Tamp down the potting mix again and, if necessary, add more. When you're done, the soil level should be 3 inches below the rim of the container.

• 8

  Add an inch or two of mulch (the bark chips you used to mix your potting medium work fine) across the entire surface.

Taking Care of Your Blueberry Bush

• 9

  Check the moisture of the potting mix regularly spring through fall. Blueberries need lots of water, and you may need to water the container daily during hot weather.

• 10

  Add a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants each spring. Follow package directions for amounts.

• 11

  Remove the flowers when they appear in the spring for the first two years. You want your blueberry plant to establish strong roots and good growth. The third year, leave the flowers, let the fruit form and enjoy your first harvest!