Blueberry Pruning?

[Kirk]

How heavy can I prune a blueberry and get oe expect it to produce new shoots?

Mine is looking sort of sick, very sick.

I have 3 ideas:
1: Just old and past it - doubtful
2: Bed it is in just isn't acidic enough for it - unsure of this.
3: Grubs munching on roots, have found them in pots elsewhere.

Thinking either 2 or 3 and both would mean moving it. The move would be to the other side of where it is and into a decent sized plastic storage type tub. Idea being that it isolates it from alkaline material and I fill with new compost and peat. Also I get to check the roots for anything.

Pruning question is because a fair bit appears dry/dead, so that will go and unsure how much I can remove before I have removed too much. Will it regrow from low down on "old" branches ?

[nickdub]

Could you post a photo please ? - sounds like something serious is wrong, but I'm not sure what.

If the grubs are vine weevil larvae then I'd turn the plant out of its pot and check the compost carefully - damned things spread, and cause a lot of damage.

[Lardman]

You can always try taking air-layers from the old branches. I've done a couple here successfully from some very scraggly looking things. I would think it a little late for pruning anything but dead wood, mine are already in flower.

[It never rains..it pours]

On a similar vein , I have just removed the flowers/buds off 2 young (2nd year / 12 inch tall) blueberries as they were loaded and read/thought better to let them build strength this year

[nickdub]

On a similar vein , I have just removed the flowers/buds off 2 young (2nd year / 12 inch tall) blueberries as they were loaded and read/thought better to let them build strength this year

I've got 4 blueberries in containers which are the same age as yours - not taking any flowers off now, but I may take off some immature berries depending on how the plants look - flowers don't place any significant strain on plants its developing the fruit which can be a problem.

[Kirk]

Photo is not worth it, no leaves to judge by and the thin branches are sort of half are brown and half green just about. Cannot tell much from a bare twig. Also never get photo's to load right.

As I suspect either something alkaline is leaching in/out or grubs then either way a repot seems required. So tomorrow it comes out and is relocated to a 50x40x50 blue box/tub with a few holes and a mix of 50% peat and 50% ericacous compost.

If it improves then the whole tub will be sank in the ground, down to ground level with the top of it.

Really just wanted to know how much pruning it might take before I had cut back too far for new growth to sprout from the existing wood. Will have to see what survives, if any after the rehousing.

Might be time for a new one, it has in a way never produced much.

[veggiechicken]

Scratch the brown branches - if they're green inside leave them, if brown cut them off. That's my rule of thumb - must go and do mine too.

[fluffybunnyuk]

blueberries dont like being moved mid-season. mine were potted late and havent done anything above ground.
If your soils not acidic enough. Treat it to half a packet of cheap filter coffee. mmmm caffeine and acidity. good for scaring off pests too.

[It never rains..it pours]

I've got 4 blueberries in containers which are the same age as yours - not taking any flowers off now, but I may take off some immature berries depending on how the plants look - flowers don't place any significant strain on plants its developing the fruit which can be a problem.

Thanks Nickdub, I left a couple on each to try the flavour

[goosander]

Interesting thread. I have 4 blueberry bushes in tubs in the greenhouse and not sure if they would do outside. There were loads of flowers on them earlier on.
Bob.

[nickdub]

Interesting thread. I have 4 blueberry bushes in tubs in the greenhouse and not sure if they would do outside. There were loads of flowers on them earlier on.
Bob.

I kept mine outside over winter, but brought them in to the PT about 2 1/2 months ago - then they went back outside.