How to Prune a Blueberry Bush

Overview

Few things tempt the taste buds more than a freshly-picked blueberry. Baked into pies or used in other recipes, these fruits make excellent additions and are also packed with antioxidants that are great for your health. Pruning is best done yearly in order to ensure that the blueberry bushes do not grow too much and that they do not begin to produce less fruit. Done correctly and with a little practice, a gardener can trim back her blueberry bush with ease and go on to enjoy the benefits of having her own blueberries close at hand.

Step 1

It is best to do your pruning in the winter when your blueberry bush is not currently harboring much fruit. You can then look at your blueberry bush and get a mental idea of just how much you intend to cut from the bush. Clear the bush of any broken canes, dead branches or unhealthy stems, and remove any dead stems or other diseased growths from the surrounding area. A successful pruning job will leave the blueberry bush narrowest at the base and opening up to a wider center.

Step 2

Identify the older canes. Canes that are older than seven years should be the first to go, so begin your pruning with them. Continue to cut away stalks if your bush is particularly full. If the bush hasn't been pruned for a few years, this will entail cutting away more dead stalks before continuing on in the normal pruning manner to be done each year. After a completed pruning job, no stems or stalks should be touching each other, leaving room for both sunshine and breeze to pass through the entirety of the bush.

Step 3

Continue removing extra stalks until the bush reaches the desired height. It is best that no more than three mature stems be taken off in each pruning cycle, as this will cause your blueberry bush to be less fruitful.