How to Prune Blueberry Vines

A mature blueberry bush has long branches that droop and appear vinelike. Prune the plant to promote new growth and an increase in berry production. Blueberry bushes prefer a narrow, clean base stem with a crown that is open in the center. The best time to prune blueberry branches is early spring, before the plant comes out of the winter dormant stage. Overgrown blueberry bushes produce fewer berries than a healthy, pruned plant.

Plant clippers
Bleach

Instructions

- 1
  Examine the blueberry plant to determine the structure and branches that require pruning. Stand about five feet from the plant to get a distance view to help with the pruning process.
- 2
  Prune broken branches by clipping them close to the nearest main joint. Remove all diseased branches by clipping them close to the main stem.
- 3
  Remove low-growing branches at the main stem to prevent the branch from bending and touching the ground during fruit production.
- 4
  Remove the two oldest branches with the least amount of berry growth. Avoid removing more that two mature branches each year.
- 5
  Prune out center branches that rub or touch each other to prevent open wounds that make the plant susceptible to disease.
- 6
  Take off flower buds from just-planted blueberry bushes for the first two growing seasons to force energy toward strong plant growth.
- 7
  Prune after berry harvest to increase berry size by removing branch shoots that produce a large quantity of small berries.

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How to Prepare a Blueberry Plant for Winter

Growing Blueberries