*  Blueberries:

Preferably, fertilizers should be applied to established blueberries in late Winter or early Spring** before foliage is present and should be spread evenly, to avoid root injury, and away from the stem. Care should be taken to apply the fertilizer only when the foliage (if present) is dry, so that fertilizer particles do not damage the foliage.  Apply the recommended amount from your soil test report, with 4 inches of rain or an equivalent amount of irrigation between applications. Apply fertilizer to the individual blueberry bushes, on young plants. On older plantings, the fertilizer may be applied either by hand to the individual plants or broadcast with an applicator. Caution: Blueberries are easily damaged by excess fertilizer.

First Year – Do not fertilize immediately after planting. Wait about a month after planting, or until the first leaves have reached full size, then apply 1 T of acid-loving plant fertilizer (like that for azaleas) or 10-10-10 within a circle 12 inches from the bush, always taking care to keep fertilizer away from the stem of the plant. Repeat application of fertilizer at 6-week intervals, depending upon rainfall or irrigation until about August 1 in the Piedmont. As nitrogen is the element to which blueberries are most responsive, use 1/2 T of 21-0-0 instead of the complete fertilizer for the second and subsequent applications, particularly if phosphorus was above 60 on your soil test.

Second Year – Double the first year’s rates and increase the circle around plants to 18 inches. Apply the first application when new growth begins in Spring.

Bearing Plants – When growth begins in Spring, apply 1 cup of complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 within a circle 36 inches from the bush. If more vigorous growth is desired, sidedress with 1/4 cup of 21-0-0 at 6 week intervals. [Determine the sidedressing requirement based on the amount of shoot growth: on mature bushes, 6 to 12 inches of new growth is adequate for optimal balance of plant size and yield.] Prune away any additional growth.  While this may result in a loss in fruit, it is necessary to keep the blueberry bushes from becoming excessively large.

**A special note: Rabbiteye blueberries, a variety proven successful in the Piedmont, are sensitive to overfertilization and to certain types of fertilizers (nitrogen in nitrate form). Split-application (2-3 times per year) of fertilizer is preferable to a single, high dosage feeding in March. Slow-release synthetic fertilizer and organic forms are beneficial for this reason.

Having trouble with measuring the correct amount? Remember the old adage: “A pint’s a pound the whole world ‘round.” (A pint of fertilizer weighs about 1 pound.)

With proper care for your fruit trees and berry bushes in the early stages of annual growth, those taste-tempting pies and preserves are just a few months away!

Read more about it:
Fertilizing Fruit Trees: