Here are three different ways to plant blueberries at your home.

In a raised bed:
Dig up a small amount of your existing soil, a couple of inches deep, and then lay landscape
cloth in the space where you want to create the bed in order to discourage weed growth and
to stop leeching of your existing soil in the peat. Put wet Canadian spaghnum peat moss
around your bushes, about 10 inches deep, and 24-36 inches wide. Blueberry bush roots do not
penetrate deep, but do like to spread out a bit We would recommend covering the peat with a
mulch of your choice so the peat doesn’t dry out too quickly, and again to keep weed growth
down.

In a planter (most recommended for small quantities in small spaces):
For smaller spaces, on decks, or anywhere in your front or back yard, blueberry bushes can live
forever in a planter. However, you will need a large planter at least 15 gallons, similar to a large
wooden barrel cut in half, or large plastic pot. Clay pots are not recommended as they could
crack while outside over the winter months. Once planted, the bushes can remain outside in the
planter forever. They should not be brought inside for the winter.

In the ground:
If you have sandy, acidic soil, planting the blueberry bushes right in the ground is an option. If
you have heavy clay or soils with a pH over 6.0, this is not a recommended option because the
clay could leach into your peat moss and affect its acidity. If you choose to plant directly into the
ground, excavate the existing soil at least 10 inches deep and 36 inches around each bush. Again,
landscape fabric is a good way to help keep the soils separate. Another option is to put a large
plastic or wooden pot right into the ground and then you can be sure that the original soil will
not leach into your Canadian Spaghnum peatmoss. Cover the area with wood chips or mulch,
along with the rest of your garden, and you have a seamless incorporation of an acid-loving
plant.

Fertilizer, Watering, Pruning
It is important to apply fertilizer two times a year, but no later than mid-July. We suggest using
Blueberry Booster, an organic sulfur humate fetilizer to help maintain low pH. It is important
not to fertilize too late in the season, i.e. no later than mid-July, or else the bushes will be too
stimulated and not harden off in time for winter.
During the first year of planting, watering is important to help establish the root system. Bushes
should be watered once a week, and maybe more if the weather is particularily hot and dry.
However, over-watering is a concern. If you have mulch on your bushes, you may only need to
water every other week. If the soil is moist, that is enough water.
In the beginning, your bushes will not need to be pruned. After about 5-7 years, it is important
to remove 1-2 of the older canes each year to promote new growth and increase the amount of
blueberries produced.
Through these simple practices, blueberries can grow and thrive for many years