If you have blueberries planted in your yard, or garden, then you probably ask yourself about pruning. Cathy Isom gives you a few tips about why, when, and how to prune blueberries. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
Pruning is an essential part of growing any fruit crop. Pruning encourages the healthy growth of the blueberry bush. It also increases fruit yield. Pruning helps to maintain a good shape and size so that the plant is productive. Blueberries that are not pruned develop branches that are crowded and intertwined. This inhibits the fruit from developing.
Prune bushes in late winter when they are still dormant. As your plants grow older you want to focus pruning to maximize fruit production by giving the best canes plenty of room.
Pick out the strongest canes that have the best flower buds. Mark them with tape or string, because you want to save them. Remove canes that are dead, diseased or broken. Remove any canes that are six years old or older, even if they have flower buds on them. Next, take off any weak or spindly looking canes.
Your end result should be a plant that is narrow at the base and has an open center. Much like a small apple tree.
I’m Cathy Isom…