Jewel Blueberry Bush

1. Planting: Plant in an area with well-drained soil and adequate sunlight (6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily) with some shade and exposure to cooler weather.

When you're ready to plant, dig a hole that is three times the diameter of the plant’s root ball and just as deep. Place the plant into the hole so that surface roots are just below the soil’s line. Fill in the hole with the garden soil, pine bark, and peat moss mixture. Tamp the soil down firmly around the shrub’s roots to remove any air pockets.

2. Watering: Your blueberry should be watered once every 2 to 3 days for the first two weeks. Keep soil moist, not saturated, by using your index finger. Stick it into your soil a couple of inches and feel around for any moisture. If it’s becoming dry, water your bush.

3. Fertilizing: Fertilize your blueberry when the leaves start to develop. Apply one tablespoon of fertilizer made for azaleas such as 10-5-4, 10-8-8 or 11-7-7 in a 12-inch circle around the base of the shrub. Water thoroughly after fertilizing.

4. Pruning: Your bush will benefit from being pruned in the late winter to remove dead or crowded branches. To maintain a lower height, prune in the wintertime.