Soil for Blueberry Plants

Soil Acidity

• Blueberry plants require an acidic soil and do not grow to their potential if the soil is not suitable. The pH of your soil must be below 5.5, the Michigan State University Extension reports. Ideally, your soil pH should be between 4.5 and 5.0 before planting your blueberry bushes. If pH is too low, the plants can die. In soils with a high pH, the plants grow more slowly and the leaves can become discolored, according to the University of Minnesota Extension. Have your soil's pH level checked by collecting a sample and taking it or sending it to a laboratory for testing. Many university extension services perform these tests.

Soil Drainage

• As with many other plants, blueberry bushes need a soil that drains well, so the roots do not sit in saturated soil after rain or being watered. For the best results, plant blueberries in soils that drain well to a depth of 14 inches to 22 inches, the Michigan State extension reports. Soil should also contain a lot of organic matter, which helps it drain well but also retain its moisture to provide the root systems with water.

Soil Preparation

• If your soil does not meet the ideal requirements for growing blueberries, you can alter it make it more suitable. However, any changes to soil composition should be done well in advance of planting. If the pH of the soil is higher than 5.5, add a 4-inch to 6-inch layer of acidic peat to the existing dirt to lower it to an acceptable range. If your soil is dense and does not drain well, consider mixing in organic matter such as mulch, peat or straw.

Other Growth Requirements

• In addition to needing an acidic and well-draining soil for planting blueberries, find a spot that gets ample sunlight. The bushes do best when they receive full sunlight, but they can tolerate as much as 50-percent shade, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service advises. In the initial years after planting, watering also is necessary during dry spells. The bushes should be watered enough that the moisture reaches a depth of 12 inches to 16 inches. Water them slowly, however, so water does not pool and accumulate, causing the roots to become over-saturated.