Blueberry Bushes to Cover a Chain Link Fence

Soil pH Testing

• Blueberries require somewhat acidic soil to grow well, so checking the soil pH is an important step before planting blueberries. Test the soil pH before planting by using an at-home testing kit or by sending a soil sample to a lab. Blueberries can grow in a pH as high as 5.5 but they generally prefer a pH between 4.0 and 5.0.

Soil pH Adjustments

• Acid peat can help lower the soil pH, as can sulfur. To lower the pH of a somewhat sandy soil, mix 4 to 6 inches of acid peat into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil. Alternatively, apply 1 pound of sulfur per 100 square feet of soil to lower the pH of sandy soil by one unit. For example, 1 pound of sulfur will lower the pH of 100 square feet of sandy soil from 6.1 to 5.1. For heavy soils, use 2 pounds of sulfur per 100 square feet.

Planting Area

• Blueberries grow best in areas with lots of sun or light shade, so consider pruning trees and bushes that block sunlight from reaching the fence area. Blueberries also prefer loose soils with excellent drainage. Add some compost to heavy soils to make them drain better and give them more nutrients. After adjusting the soil pH and perfecting the soil texture with compost or other organic materials, the area should be ready for planting.

Planting

• Plant blueberry bushes during the spring in late April or May. Dig planting holes large enough to hold all of the plants' roots and cover them with at least 3 inches of soil. Give the plants at least 3 to 4 feet of space in between each other especially near fence posts that will compete with the plant roots for space. In general, planting holes about twice as wide as the root ball of the plants will work well. To improve the drainage of compacted soils even more, add some peat moss or compost to the soil while filling the planting hole back in.

Care

• Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plants to keep the soil moist. Water the plants by hand with a hose or by using a drip irrigation system. Keep the soil beneath the mulch consistently moist but not overly saturated. The bushes will generally need an inch or 2 of water each week during the growing season. Apply a balanced acid-producing fertilizer at least once in early spring each year. Blueberry plants do not require much pruning during their first five years of growth. Remove only damaged parts of the plants, low twiggy growth and weak growth. After five years, selectively prune out some of the old canes each year to encourage new growth and allow sunlight to reach the inner branches.