Blueberries should be pruned regularly to ensure a bountiful yield. We show what you should consider when cutting blueberries.
Blueberries (also known as blueberries) are very popular with us. The heather family (Ericaceae) can also be grown in your own garden, although the care required depends entirely on the species. In Germany, either the small-growing forest bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is grown or cultivated bilberries derived from the American bilberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). Due to the high growth habit of up to three meters and the good yield, a cut in cultivated blueberries, in contrast to forest blueberries, makes sense in certain cases. We show why and, above all, how you should cut the popular blueberry.
Cutting blueberries: Why it's worth it
In the last few decades, plant breeding has produced large-fruited, high-growing cultivated blueberries that can tolerate pruning from time to time. Depending on the variety, the shoots tend to grow taller or wider. But a cut not only helps to maintain a beautiful shape and avoid excessive growth. Removing old shoots also allows more light to enter the bush. The plant can then invest its energy mainly in the remaining two to three-year-old shoots, which produce the largest amount of blueberries. Pruning is of particular importance when the bush is affected by a plant disease or pest. In this case, be sure to cut off affected parts of the plant to prevent further spread. The larvae of the winter moth (Operophtera brumata) are a common problem on blueberries. In contrast, he althy parts of the plant can also be used for propagation. When cuttings are obtained, parts of a shoot are cut off and placed in an acidic substrate for root formation. With a little care, small blueberry bushes will emerge again.
See this article for more information on propagating bilberries/blueberries.
When should blueberries be cut?
In the first few years after planting, blueberries should not be pruned due to their slow development. After that, it is advisable to carry out a thinning cut every three to four years to stimulate new growth from the base of the cane. You should remove old, diseased and too flat shoots. Basically, the optimal time for pruning blueberries is after the harvest in autumn (October/November) or in early spring (until March). During this time the plant is no longer growing and the bush tolerates pruning better.
Cuttings are usually taken and planted in autumn. When cutting in winter (if you do, however), make sure not to cut when the temperature is below freezing, as this can also damage the plant. An exception to the winter pruning work, however, is pruning from spring to summer due to pests.
Cutting blueberries/blueberries: Instructions
For the correct pruning of the blueberry, only cut off a few shoots on the plant and do not carry out any radical pruning. Gnarled and diseased branches can always be removed. An optimal shrub consists of about six to eight (three to four year old) branches and a few young shoots.
If a new bush is still a very young specimen, it is also worth cutting off the flowers in the first few years and only letting the berries grow when the bush has reached a certain size. In this way, the plant can put all its energy into growth.
Cutting blueberries: The most important things in brief
- Prune every 3 to 4 years
- Clearing of the bush in winter
- No cutting work in frost
- Remove diseased and gnarled shoots from time to time
- Pruning off the flowers in the first few years of very young plants
These products are ideal for trimming your shrubs, hedges and trees:
- Felco Secateurs: Top-of-the-line manual pruning shears, pruning shears, recommended for all types of pruning. Nextplastic-coated handles, it has a precision blade and anvil blade adjustment system.
- Felco Fruit Tree and Pruning Shears: Heavy duty fruit tree and pruning shears with wire cutter, sap groove and micrometer adjustment.
- Gardena telescopic arm scissors: Practical secateurs for effortlessly cutting tall trees and dense bushes from the ground.
Felco Orchard And Secateurs No 6€31.99Details →
GARDENA Telescope StarCut 410 plus€84.45Details →
In addition to cutting, there are other care measures that ensure a more productive blueberry harvest. Here are the top tips for growing blueberries/blueberries.