How to Prune a Blueberry Bush for a Larger Harvest

Learn how to prune a blueberry bush for a larger harvest. I walk you through pruning blueberries, no matter if you're pruning a young blueberry bush or you're needing to prune a mature blueberry bush. The best time of year to prune blueberries is in late winter or early spring before the buds break, when you can clearly see what is a blossom bud and what's a leaf bud.
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[@MelissaKNorris]

Are you growing blueberries, did this pruning info help out and of course, your favorite recipe to put those blueberries in (cause that's why we grow all our own food, the delicious eating!)

[@LittleRapGuy]

great video

[@margaretcaine4219]

In my Mediterranean climate, the bushes are evergreen. Do same rules apply? Prune early spring?

[@frederickjohnh]

Yes, I wish you would have shown and explain more about the two types of buds in the video. I mostly just like to snack on them fresh when taking a break in the garden.

[@trishdavi7049]

I enjoy your videos and learn much from you. With respect the background noise in this drowns out what you are saying & is irritating to watch . Perhaps having your words written on the base of the screen so we can read what you are saying and mute the horrible noise

[@trishdavi7049]

I could not watch this one completely. If I was watching a music video and it got drowned out with some gardening tutorial...hopefully that helps you understand

[@kathrynletchford8603]

The loud music, makes it hard to hear you. You are imparting great information, but overridden by ghastly loud music.

[@cherilynne1946]

I was about to write the same thing. Not only is the music unnecessary, it’s extremely distracting.

[@mela7507]

I agree. The content is good but the music is too loud. I had to work hard to mentally tune it out.

[@dalah4053]

So many KZbin podcasters play loud music. I don't think they need ANY music if they are there to impart information. So often you can't hear them.

[@kendrainsummers4204]

Having the same problem with the music.

[@cherilynne1946]

@@dalah4053 Absolutely. I’ve thought that so many times. Some of my favorite KZbinrs just say what they’re there to say-they deliver great information with no unnecessary music. Perky, upbeat music doesn’t really make the presentation more interesting or professional sounding. Often, it does the opposite.

[@CMBgreenbird]

Lol at the pup in the background having its best day 😁

[@lisatangen4213]

Really helpful information and clear video. The bonus is your dog romping in the background.

[@Papi-nz5cs]

Could you discuss how and when you fertilize your blueberry bushes? This pruning vid is the best I've seen anywhere. Very Well Done.

[@sandyhudson5753]

I have 10 year old blueberry bushes I never pruned because I have been waiting for someone to show me how!! Love it and thank you! Keep up the info

[@bonnieparker1238]

Great video, informative. But, please let us hear the nature sounds rather than the busy music.

[@kathrynletchford8603]

. Yes. The music is horrible..

[@dalah4053]

Yes. Please redo without the music. Hard to hear.

[@bridgetplunkett7630]

Music is yuk

[@homemclaughlin7830]

Hard to hear you with that music . Agree with others..it is distracting.

[@trishdavi7049]

Totally agree. Will miss the content cause I value my time and skip this video like most others with elevator music

[@charlescoker7752]

You can put a sprayer on the Alcohol bottle. To get a more even coverage on the tool.

[@dalah4053]

Yes.. Especially with Covid alcohol is hard to come by.

[@notsohandytim5090]

Apply the alcohol to a rag or paper towel and wipe.

[@cibaian1219]

no need for it if u doing it like 7:03 or maybe the ground already been poured with alcohol

[@tammymann6292]

This sounds like good information but I can't make it through the whole video because of the music. :(

[@vh2337]

This is one of the best video's I've seen on pruning these bushes, thanks so much.

[@gratituderanch9406]

I just keep the alcohol in a spray bottle and store it near my shears. And never heard it called foil-age before. Always heard it as Fol-iage. Really well done video. Super clear and helpful

[@cathyhanley8658]

Thank you, that really bothered me. Every time she said foilage, I kept say FOLIAGE. Hehe

[@allingtonmarakan1436]

It would be an even better video without that bloody awful music track spoiling it.

[@JWHealing]

Yes yes yes. I hate to correct because a free video is a kindness & helpful.....but FOIL-age is not a word and it was such a key & frequent word in the video. FO-Li-AGE is the word. OK I feel better now. :-) Melissa thanks very much for this informative video. You took a lot of time to provide so much detail & I appreciate it. I really hope you didn't mind the word policing. 🙂

[@MaLiArtworks186]

I say toe-maa-toe, you say toe-may-toe 🍅🌶

[@TheGlenandlisa]

Super helpful, Melissa. I bookmarked this video some time ago and calendared when to actually prune. Today is my big day, so I'm watching it again. Thanks for taking us step by step through the entire bush. Now I feel ready!

[@sherryhelling2446]

I loved the extra tips like the canes growing over each other. I loved how you explained and showed each step. Two thumbs up!

[@frenchhenvt2418]

Love the pup playing in background!!!!

[@mariehurley7055]

I had to stop watching even though interested because the music was too distracting.

[@ernstfuld4920]

it's not music, it's soundsh*t

[@kaygustin7032]

Me too, OMG it was tormenting to listen to and impossible to tune out.

[@gordulinaa]

Thank you SO very much for all the clear, uncomplicated information. I appreciated how you shared how to sanitize the tools, and demonstrated it, and how you explained step by step how you make each pruning decision. That’s the kind of tutorial a beginner gardener like me needs!

[@jessicafields1726]

Omg this video was so helpful. When we moved to this property there we so many blueberry bushes that had not been prune is years. We got blueberries two years ago but not last year. Im definitely going to go out and prune for the first time.

[@angelenerash5160]

Thank you for sharing! I'm new to pruning and love to watch how easy it looks. In my opinion, the background music is unnecessary. For me, it takes away from being able to focus on what you are saying. I hope this comes across helpful and not critical.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Hey Angelene, I actually reached out to my video editor (we didn't have time to redo it) and asked her to take the music down on talking parts, thank you!

[@beebob1279]

Watch a university extension video and you’ll see more vigorous fruiting.

[@brendajohnson6680]

Yes, please drop the music. I promise it will be OK. Thank you for the video

[@colleenpritchett6914]

@@MelissaKNorris please just remove the music , it’s unnecessary and distracting from your teaching. Thanks

[@ro8257]

been searching ways to prune blueberry and love this video has clear, close up images of what should/shouldn't prune. extremely helpful!

[@Guacquin]

Thank you for the extremely thorough explanation of each of your decisions for pruning. I feel confident about the care of our new bush following these recommendations.

[@suzwilsonmusic]

Your dog! 🐾 ❤️ 😂 Great video! I learned a lot! Thank you!

[@lorrainebarnett6549]

hee hee....love the pup in the background having the time of his life with the ?chewed up basketball? Thanks! This was helpful! (and entertaining with pup romping in the background.)

[@MelissaKNorris]

He was having a blast, lol I think it's an old buoy and his favorite thing

[@cherylluke3067]

I love the dog also. Made me chuckle.

[@hootwho3640]

Thought he had a chicken!!

[@fordguyfordguy]

You did such a nice job with this video! and the way you say the word foliage is so cute!

[@donnagagne3813]

The music makes it hard to enjoy this.

[@JudiStitches]

Getting ready to prune. You’ve made a great video that I actually understand and...I’m not afraid to prune now!

[@sammerd7048]

This is by FAR, the best, clearest, most obvious explanation, explained in a human way. Thanks!

[@Barbaralee1205]

Not clear at all because of the racket in the background. Could not make it past minute 2

[@carolbecker7759]

@@Barbaralee1205 I agree, but I could make it thru because I took out my hearing aids and those high frequency sounds didn't come thru and I could manage the rest. Got a smile because of the dog playing in the background.

[@Erika70079]

We bought out first blueberry bushes yesterday! Thank you so much for this video, it was so informative and I'll refer back to it when I'm ready to prune.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Congrats on your first blueberry bushes and I"m so glad you found it helpful!

[@davelawson2564]

@@MelissaKNorris Are your soil acidic ? or do you make it acidic for the bushes to grow in ?

[@MelissaKNorris]

@@davelawson2564 yes, blueberries require acidic soil, preferably in the 5 range on the pH scale. I have a section on this in my new book with a detailed amendment soil guide as a pre-order bonus you might want to check out at familygardenplan.com but you can acidify by using elemental sulfur or peat moss.

[@jolenebailey3821]

Thank you for the close up photos and explaining all the steps. Best pruning video I have seen.

[@carolmoyer9059]

Very helpful and well presented!

[@lenpoulin5034]

Thanks for sharing this information. It was very clear and easy to follow. I have 30 bushes, that are 20 years old. I've never pruned them, other than removing "dead, diseased, damaged" wood. Now, they are lanky, loaded with blueberries, and touching the ground everywhere. I'll be busy in the early spring. What would happen if I start pruning late summer after the fruiting period has passed?

[@manuelacruz5177]

You, to know germination seeds ? Here It makes a máximum of 31°C and a minimum of 26 °C there is a possibility of germination seeds?

[@scientificexplorergirl3374]

Foliage...not foilage. Nice demonstration. I agree about the music.

[@kristinfrancis7798]

Yes, thank you, I was thinking the same...😏

[@josephhower5806]

Yes the word has 3 syllables. Fo-lee-age. Not foil-age.

[@brightantwerp]

Thank you!

[@coinandknifeguy969]

Thank you!

[@CosmosNut]

Am also in the PNW. Thanks so much for this great video.

[@terriebutler6737]

Great video! THANK YOU 🙃

[@radrickdavis]

Tool Tip: Flip the pruners upside down, so the blade curves downard, when cutting stems from the right side of the branch. Otherwise the sharp side of the blade is further away from the edge you are cutting. It also allows the blade to cut more evenly by holding the blade at the best angle for an inside cut. Even a sharp blade will tend to jam more often when the pruning blade cuts from the outside.

[@MichaelBoocock-v5e]

Loads of great information, sorry had to cut it short due to the awful music/noise which was utterly distracting maybe there's a way of silencing the unnecessary noise in the background ?

[@cherylcasio9401]

Great content on your video! However, the music makes it difficult to hear you (and is a bit irritating - sorry!). The video would be much more enjoyable if the music track was between your vocal content rather than over it. No offense, just trying to be helpful.

[@deardeo8728]

So nice and beauty tutorial videos, new frnd like it

[@sharonjohnson3147]

Love the pup awesome , thanks for the informative video , and yes sounds of nature would work better in your video

[@danyerdon8494]

Back off on the music for us hard of hearing old folks. Too much noise. Do that and I’ll come back to watch your video.

[@LS-sg8rb]

I too kept on adjusting the volume. The music was too loud compared to the voice.

[@malcolmharing3744]

A volume knob is so you can turn down the sound. It helps. A petty complaint. Respect her effort and sharing her knowledge with you.

[@zuzannakania6614]

There are ways to give kind constructive criticism, and there are ways to give passive aggressive criticism. This comment is the latter. Kinder version: As someone hard of hearing I had trouble hearing your voice over the music. I would like to watch more of your videos, but it would be helpful to have softer background music in future videos.

[@zuzannakania6614]

Subtitles can be turned on for this video with a click of a button.

[@LS-sg8rb]

Thanks, good video! I read a U Maine tutorial about blueberry pruning, but couldn't see the difference between fruiting buds vs leaf buds. Your video made it really clear! The whole video was very helpful.

[@vonries]

I was very surprised you didn't split them up to fill in the area or move some to a new area. Did you do that the following year?

[@portermetcalfjr4209]

Please explain the high mounds of mulching and type of mulch you are using. Thanks.

[@teribryan8444]

I appreciate you, your videos, immensely. I got to tell you though, that the background music is very distracting for me. I'm probably just one of those folks. Thank you for the valuable info.

[@anniegaddis5240]

Great info... sharing!

[@lovinglifehealth]

Thank you so much for this video, exactly the info I’ve been seeking!

[@lucianoriega277]

Thanks for the video! I will really prefer without the background music.

[@AlexTooby]

Take a shot every time she says vigorous

[@bourniplus]

Thanks for sharing. I'd suggest putting your alcohol in a spray bottle, it wastes less of it.

[@timm2926]

Great video. I'm in Ohio and it's time to prune. This video was very informative. Thanks for sharing.

[@markdixon3943]

When it comes to pruning blueberry, I've looked at all the videos. In addition to those branch described, should I also prune any branches that do not produce berries this season? I can simply mark them with a loose tie of cotton yarn and remove them when it's time.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Yes, if no production then prune

[@markdixon3943]

@@MelissaKNorris Thank you!

[@JohnVHRC]

Thanks for the video. Very informative. I'm in the PNW too

[@johnohare6379]

Potted blueberry for the first time at the back end of last year and it is showing plenty of vigorous growth with fruit buds. As a complete novice I have found your video most instructive and realise that very little pruning is required on this young bush

[@oldmilkmaid1955]

My first time watching one of your videos. Very informative and nicely done, except that the background "music" is distracting and annoying. I need to hear YOU, not IT. Thanks. I'm just getting started with blueberries, in pots for now, but this information will be very helpful.

[@RocketPipeTV]

My blueberries are not creating much new growth at all after 3 years. Any tips how to save them is highly appreciated!

[@caseyfrench5128]

Cut all that big old wood right out. they suck up to much nutrients and shade everything. All the big grey canes take them out. Every cut forces new shoots. I prune 10,000 bushes every year. Good job, good video

[@ZacharyPalmerCharles]

Great video. Very easy to follow. It is very helpful that you discussed what you were doing and why - so when I go to my blueberry garden I will also know what to look for and why. I especially liked when you discussed your decisions to prune branches that have a small amount of growth and why you kept some. Great information on pruning blueberries.

[@JennySimon206]

What I need to know is do I prune potted blueberry bushes bought from the nursery? Not sure if that is considered 1st year or if they had it the 1st year. How and when do u start pruning?some say prune off the flower buds to encourage vegetative growth when u first get them. Others say not to do anything the 1st year. 1st year for me or them?

[@sharechoc4395]

Do you have a video on how to plant and care for blueberries during the growing season?

[@MelissaKNorris]

Not yet, I honestly don't do much else to them other than applying the mulch to the base end of January or February.

[@ourv9603]

MELISSA, Great Vid!!! BUT, What I wanna know is how to prune blackberry vines with minimal blood letting. !

[@davids6533]

Great information. Thank you! : )

[@rebeccat.6736]

Love the information. Very helpful. The background music is too loud, very distracting.

[@rachelc.7152]

Great video! I loved watching your dog running by when you are explaining how to prune. Are your bushes top dressed with compost and shavings?

[@MelissaKNorris]

He was having a lot of fun with his toy, lol Yes, they're dressed with compost and shavings, it really helps retain moisture in the summer months but the bigger reason is we have a mummy berry fungus here and when I apply it in early winter, it smothers the mushrooms to keep them from infecting the bush again.

[@lizbagel9029]

@melissaknorris what is his toy, if you don’t mind me asking? My dogs need more entertainment. 😆

[@stuffbywoody5497]

I have to admit that it was difficult hearing some of what you were saying, due to the music. It was setting off my tinnitus something fierce. Not all Blueberries have a red coloured new growth. I have 3 or 4 varieties where the new growth is green until it matures.

[@williamstanley7900]

Very informative. Thank you. One suggestion is to lower the background instrumental volume.

[@BiddahSweet]

How do you keep bugs from making that mound of sphagnum peat moss a home or is that sawdust? im not sure which it is.

[@emylytle5409]

How old is your blueberry again? Cuz mine is just small and has a lot of leaves. When do I need to prune mine since it’s just about a 1’ and half? Thank you for ur tips ♥️👍

[@malleusmaleficarum6004]

What is foilage? Do you mean foliage?

[@lesliedickinson8955]

I always thought you start from bottom up. And it's FO LI AGE

[@esewed75]

Are you really going to correct someone on pronunciation, I'm sure all your words are spot on.

[@jjnewport7907]

Informative video- thanks. The music was a bit annoying though.

[@dotdavis1]

Thanks so much for the great info! Please ... no music.

[@lse9926]

You make it look easy....this will be my first year pruning my blueberry plants. Thank you!

[@user-rq9zh9ht9c]

I have pink lemonade blue berry plant that has never produced berries.

[@MadeByFrance]

One of the best informative video on blueberry pruning I ever saw. Thank you! Do you have one on raspberries?

[@MelissaKNorris]

Yes, it's right here kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXSkeZKMeNOBiNk

[@kenquale7856]

Very informative video but please skip the music very distracting

[@Veg463]

the music is 'in-the-way' of your otherwise, very nice presentation.

[@carolinablonde88]

Super informative and great video. As always, I learn so much from your videos. I do have one thing to ask though. Can you please nix the music while you're talking? I have an auditory processing disorder that is pretty common, so I'm sure I'm not the only one affected. The music makes it really difficult to concentrate on what you're saying. I had to replay a few spots several times before I gave up and put on subtitles, but subtitles on KZbin are notorious for being wrong. Itd be much easier to hear you without the music. Thanks a bunch :)

[@MelissaKNorris]

Yes, I asked the young gal who started helping me edit the videos to make sure the music was low and only on parts where I"m not talking, we didn't have the capacity to redo the edit (it's really surprising how many house go into making a 12 minute video) but she has it for the future ones. Thank you for giving constructive feedback in a kind way :)

[@carolinablonde88]

@@MelissaKNorris I know editing is tedious. I don't envy anyone who does it. Lol. I'm glad you saw my comment and took the time to reply. :) I really enjoy your videos and emails

[@octaviogamez6464]

Great video, what do you use for fertilizer? I planted couple of bushes and only bare fruit first year, thank you 🙏🏽

[@2541968joey]

Solid video thanks for sharing, got my blueberries in very large tubs here in zone 10

[@bch6707]

Hi, thanks for putting this video together. Does the type of blueberry matter when you prune and should you only prune when you are in the part of the season where the blueberry doesn't have any fruit and foliage?

[@MelissaKNorris]

You should only prune during the dormant season, no matter the variety

[@faniefaze]

From google - Annual vegetables that can accompany blueberries include radishes (Raphanus spp.), potatoes (solanum spp.), peppers (Capsicum spp.) or endive (Cichorium spp.), while the herb parsley (Petroselinum spp.) makes a decorative and useful companion to blueberries as well. Do blueberries and strawberries grow well together? Both strawberries and blueberries are easy to grow garden fruits that you can plant once and reap from for many years. They both can act as beautiful landscape plants and they can be grown together. Strawberries act like ground cover to keep the soil around the blueberry shrubs moist and weed-free.

[@Gunns57]

Just found your channel. Subscribed. I will prune my blue berrys per your recommendation when the snow melts.

[@ceepark114]

I found that after I had done some pruning on a couple of my smaller blueberry plants that I got new growth coming from the base of the plant. Thanks for the info, will get my shears ready for pruning my blueberries this year.

[@terriephillips8589]

I have never pruned my 8 year old bushes! A good education in pruning my blueberries in PNW. I missed the timeframe to prune this year but next year will I'll be taking care of them. Thank you for answering other questions regarding the care of blueberries like mulching and what not.

[@oliviakirksey206]

Thank you for making this video! I need to prune my blueberry bush but have been too intimidated to mess it up. Your tips and visuals are a huge help. Bless you!

[@LindaAtwater-w3p]

Great video, super helpful. I I LOVE the photo-bomber in the background!

[@ladyearth2ella]

Hello, I'm wondering if that's mulch you piled up at the base of all the bushes? I'm new to gardening and caring for blueberry bushes. All our trees and bushes (including our blueberry bushes) on our property were planted in soil mixed with crushed stone. Not really sure why, maybe to keep weeds out. It's impossible to change this now as a lot of the tree's and bushes are 50-80 years old. We considered adding more crushed stone to cover the area and keep weeds out but I haven't a clue of whether that is a bad idea? Lmk your thoughts. Thanks

[@ladyearth2ella]

BTW my favourite part is where the dog comes trotting by with a large object in tow! lol

[@MelissaKNorris]

Crushed stone isn't going to break down and help feed the plant so I personally would pick a different medium.

[@ladyearth2ella]

@@MelissaKNorris what do you recommend

[@ladyearth2ella]

what about mulch?

[@soniatrepetin3393]

Yay! Thanks for this informational video...the yay because I just pruned my blueberries last week (about 11 year old bushes and they tower over me) and really kinda winged it...I thought it seemed a bit tedious, because I took a lot of time to thoughtfully go over each bush and each branch, cutting out the obvious dead wood and then going over each individual remaining branch and pruning off tips and stems that were dead or sad looking. These blueberry bushes were on the property when we bought it, and they were about 4 years old then. I had seen a decline in production over the years, so I went pretty hard on the cuts this year, even lopping off much of what was healthy grow, but up at about 8 feet. Since I can't harvest anything up that high and I thought those longer stretches of growth might be what are zapping production energy out of the bushes, most of them got a good cut (I left a few taller ones, since I know the birds come around and grab what I can't reach - nothing goes to waste!). So, again, thanks for the visual of what and how to do. Turns out that for the most part, intuition led me in a good direction. Now, if only I can get over my fear of "cutting too much"! I know it's healthier for the plants and things come back more vigorous and lush with growth...but boy, does it make me shake in my boots! :)

[@MelissaKNorris]

So glad you found it helpful and you're putting some new life into those bushes. My folks have plants that are 40+ years old and they're still producing so you should have lots of years left in them.

[@WLT_VIDS]

@@MelissaKNorris we are also in the pacific NW and have some questions to pick your brain. How else could we get ahold of you

[@kathyhayward5730]

Very informative video, but the background music was too loud. My preference is no music whatsoever.

[@bobbean4702]

Birds eat most of mine. -and ALL of the elderberries.

[@markfjeld7352]

What are you using for mulch ?

[@larryconover3925]

how can you ID a Fruit bud vs a leaf bud?????

[@samholdsambeck7558]

Wonderful video, Melissa. Very helpful. I will watch more of your stuff!

[@brendaeiland6441]

Very helpful. I am now confident!

[@douglawton3990]

Your audio suffers a bit from the background music around the 8:45 mark. You'd do well in future videos to eliminate ALL background noise as much as possible, not add to it.... Otherwise, a very informative video !!!

[@varietasVeritas]

It seems like it would be more efficient to cut the large pieces down low first, then work your way up.

[@aurawright2130]

Very clear and helpful! Thank You! 🙂👍🏼

[@kathy8590]

Very thorough and informative though it's hard to see some of the details that need snipping off. . overall excellent video. The music is never enjoyed by me. And true of many videos it's too loud and distracting. I really learned a lot though. Thanks.

[@cindypulliam7833]

I planted 2 blueberry bushes and 1 has died. Do I need to have 2 blueberry bushes or will the one bush still produce?

[@MelissaKNorris]

The one will still produce but you won't get as many berries from it as you would if you had another pollinator (another blueberry bush of a different variety) nearby. So if you feel like production is low, consider bringing in a new plant :)

[@stillness4610]

I learned so much from this video! Thank you so much for sharing!