How to Plant Blueberries Near a Fence

Collect a soil sample along the fence line and test the pH, organic content and nutrient levels. You can collect several samples along the length of the fence and mix the soil together to make a composite sample. Submit the sample to an environmental or agricultural laboratory for analysis.

Amend your soil if indicated by the soil test results. Blueberries grow well with a soil pH of 4.5 to 5.0. Amend your soils with sulfur to lower the soil pH or lime to raise the pH. If the soil's organic content is less than three percent add organic matter such as grass, peat or mulch to increase the organic matter content and to promote optimal growth and drainage.

Space your blueberry shrubs 12 feet apart along the fence line. If you have two or more rows, they should be 4 to 6 feet apart with the plants staggered. Plant each shrub in a 4-inch deep hole that is 2 to 4 inches wider than the root ball. If you plan to add your soil amendments in each planting hole only, dig the holes approximately 18 inches wide and deep then mix the amendments with the soil that you removed. Replace the amended soil within 4 inches of the land surface before placing the plant in the ground.

Spread 2 to 6 inches of mulch around the new plants. Mulches such as pine bark, needles, or sawdust or peat moss are beneficial to blueberries because they help to keep the soil pH acidic naturally. You can join the shrubs into a landscape bed in front of the fence by spreading the mulch over the entire area around and between the plants.

Water the blueberry plants weekly if there is not at least 1 to 2 inches of rain in your area. The shallow root systems of blueberry plants will dry quickly if not adequately watered.

Spread fertilizer around the blueberry shrubs approximately 12 inches from the base in a circle after the leaves grow to full size. Either 12-12-12 or 10-10-10 fertilizers are adequate for most soil.

If results of the soil nutrient tests indicate that the soil lacks either nitrogen, potassium or phosphorous, you can adjust the fertilizer type to reach the appropriate nutrient levels for the shrubs.

After the blueberry shrubs begin to produce fruit, apply fertilizer farther from the base. Generally, in the second year the fertilizer should be 18 inches from the plant base and up to 3 feet away in subsequent years.