What Kind of Soil Mixture Do I Need for Top Hat Blueberries?

Peat Moss

• Peat moss provides the acidity and moisture retention that Top Hat blueberries need to survive. As the base for the soil mixture, peat moss must comprise 50 percent, or five parts, of the completed mix. Use fresh, unused peat moss with a pH of between 3.6 and 4.2 in the soil mixture since older peat moss loses its acidity and may harbor harmful pathogens that will damage your Top Hat blueberry shrub.

Perlite

• Perlite provides additional moisture retention to the soil mixture without making it soggy, which is an important consideration when growing Top Hat blueberries in containers. In addition, perlite enhances drainage since it absorbs its weight in water while allowing excess water to drain off. Twenty percent, or two parts, of the soil mixture must be made up of perlite to provide the level of moisture needed to keep Top Hat blueberries healthy and thriving.

Medium-Grit Sand

• While the soil mixture for Top Hat blueberries must be moist, it must also have adequate drainage to protect the roots from fungi. Incorporating 10 percent, or 1 part, medium-grit sand into the soil mixture will increase the drainage and keep water from pooling or saturating the soil so the plant remains healthy and free from most serious diseases known to affect blueberries.

Compost

• Compost enhances the nutritional stores and chemical balance of the soil. In a soil mixture for Top Hat blueberries, it must comprise 10 percent of the finished product. Manure or leaf-based compost works best for blueberry soil since it provides valuable alkalinity, which will allow the plant to absorb calcium from the soil to keep it healthy and strong.

Loam

• Loam, or garden soil, should make up only 10 percent of the soil mixture. This acts as a binding agent for the rest of the components, so it is best to use clay-based loam with a high silica content. The high alkalinity of loam will allow your Top Hat blueberries to better absorb magnesium and potassium, which are both vital nutrients used in photosynthesis.