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How To Prune Blueberry Bushes In
The Summer
By AMANDA FINN
In an exclusive interview with House Digest, Shirley Bovshow of Foodie Gardener shared the best techniques for trimming your blueberry bush in the summer, like the ⅓ pruning rule.
Bovshow said to start with the "Triple D" method: "Remove dead, damaged, and diseased wood!" She added that not getting rid of such canes "will impact blueberry yield and quality."
To encourage fruiting, air flow, and sunlight access, Bovshow suggested pruning crowded center branches. She also said to trim canes until they are 6-12 inches off the ground.
She warned not to take off too many leaves to keep the plant shaded from direct sun — which can lead to sun damage, especially in the summer. Prune no more than 20-25% of the bush.
Bovshow said to use sharp, clean shears "to prevent the spread of diseases from plant to plant" and to "[a]pply mulch around the base of the bush and water deeply after pruning."