How to Plant Blueberries in a Backyard Garden

Choose a variety of blueberry to plant. There are different types of blueberry plants, including high bush and half-high bush. Each mature high bush plant provides about 5 to 10 lbs. of blueberries, while each half-high plant provides only 1 to 3 lbs. of blueberries.

Pick a planting area in your backyard garden that is in full sun and has adequate drainage. A buildup of water could kill your blueberry plants. The soil in the planting area should have a pH of between 4.0 and 5.5.

Purchase your blueberry plants from a reputable nursery in the spring. The spring is the best season to plant blueberries.

Dig a hole in the planting area big enough to hold the blueberry plant's roots. The hole must be about 2 feet wide and between 18 and 24 inches deep.

Saturate the blueberry plant's roots with water before you set it in the soil. Put the blueberry plant into your hole and fill in the hole with a combination of moist peat and soil to secure the plant. Water the blueberry plant right away.

Space high bush variety plants about 4 to 6 feet apart, and space half-high varieties 3 to 4 feet apart.

Spread 3 to 5 inches of mulch on top of the soil and around the blueberry plants to help retain moisture and protect the roots in hot weather. The best types of mulch to use for blueberry plants are pine needles, wood chips, sawdust or shredded leaves.

Remove small side branches and cut back main branches of the blueberry plant after planting. For the first 2 years after planting, remove blossoms as they grow to prevent the blueberry plants from producing fruit. This will increase the growth of fruit in later years, with the largest volume of fruit being produced in the fifth or sixth year.