Blueberries taste great, and they are one of the most amazing ornaments in gardens. By following some simple steps you can grow your own blueberry and enjoy its fruits every year.

Here are basic steps to a beautifully growing blueberry bush:

1. Choose a proper place and prep the soil.

If you are interested in growing blueberries, you have to locate a sunny place and use well-drained, well-worked soil, and weed-free soil. The roots of the bush require constant moisture, so you may want to look for a place where irrigation is already available.

But, you can also make raised beds if the soil is not well drained, or if it is only partially drained.

Blueberries can be also grown in patio containers, which is great for those of you who do not have a garden or live in an apartment.

If you decide to plant the blueberry bush directly in the ground, make sure you mark off an area of approximately two and a half feet in diameter and a foot deep for each plant. Till the areas and remove a third or a half of the soil. Add an equal amount of pre-moistened peat moss and mix it well.

If you have made raised beds, use a mixture of equal amounts of peat moss and bark (do not use cedar or redwood), compost or planting mix. You can consult your local garden center for some recommendations.

2. Space the bushes for optimal growth

The space between the blueberry bushes should be 2 or two and a half feet for solid hedgerows, or up to 6 feet if you want to grow individual blueberry plant. If you plant the bushes in a row, the space between the rows should be 8-10 feet.

3. Planting

Plant blueberry bushes in spring or fall, even though in some regions they can be planted in every time of the year.

If you buy containerized plants, take the bush out of the contains and roughen up the external layer of the roots. Elevate plant’s topsoil for half an inch. Firm it well around the root ball, and at the end mound some soil up along the sides of the exposed root. Water it well.

4. Milching

Sawdust, bark mulch, grass clippings, and acid compost are the best blueberry mulches. Blueberry bush has shallow roots and benefits from the mulch.

About 2-4 inches of milch over the roots are just enough to conserve the moisture, stop any weeds from growing and provide organic matter. Repeat the procedure every other year, and do not use any bark or sawdust from cedar or redwood tree.

5. Pruning

Blueberry bush requires annual heavy pruning to avoid over-fruiting which often results in small fruits. Once it starts to grow, let the bush establish well first, and then allow it to bear fruits. Remove most of the flower blooms as they appear. Prune your blueberry bushes regularly, as heavy, annual pruning will provide a stronger, and much healthier bush.

Tips on pruning:
– Clear low growths around the base of the bush
– Remove any dead wood
– Cut off short and discolored branches
– Prune until you remove 1/3-1/2 of the wood of the plant.

6. Soil fertilization

Acid fertilizers like azalea or rhododendron formulations work well. You can also ask your local garden center for anything else. Keep in mind that blueberries are sensitive to over-fertilization.

Do not add too many fertilizers and always follow the instructions on the label. The soil should be fertilized in early spring and late spring. After the fertilization proves, always water the soil thoroughly.

If you decide to go for organic fertilizers, use blood meal and cottonseed. These both have proven to give amazing results. Avoid manures because they may damage the bush.