Blueberries - Prune and Soil Treatment.

[4Shoes]

Been a nice day and was looking at my tubs of Blueberries. Thinking its time to give them a prune, replace some compost around the top and top dress with Sulphate of Iron. Then perhaps Bone Meal once 1st leaves.

Does that sound right? or am I too early for Sulphate of Iron... No Guidance on packet when to apply, just how much to apply

Was then going to cover top of pots with bark / Christmas tree chips.

[burnie]

They need lots of acid soil/compost do they not?

[4Shoes]

They are already in tubs with ericaceous compost. This will be their 3rd year, so expect I need to add some Sulphate of Iron to increase the acid levels.

"Towards the end of each winter apply a sprinkling of sulphate of iron to the soil surface ready for growth to resume" - Add 2" of bark to retain moisture.."

Read the posting
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...uide_6408.html

And also read that "the general rule of thumb is to fertilize blueberries in the spring before their leaves have grown in.... When looking for a high acid blueberry bush fertilizer, look for fertilizers that contain ammonium sulphate. Bone Meal and powdered Seaweed fertilize can provide the potassium and phosphorus"


So I already have the Bone Meal and the Sulphate of Iron. So was going to di the prune, Top Compost Dressing with Iron and Bonemeal all at one, then top with Bark / Christmas tree.
Question is is January too early or go for end Feb?

[Snadger]

My blueberries have new shots on them now. You can get propriety ericaseous fertiliser quite cheaply, which I intend to use probably in March. Temporarily I have just put a thick mulch of fallen leaves around them. In March I will pull back the leaves and add the fertiliser.