Resources News Blueberry Pruning Pruning is required to maintain blueberry plant vigor and productivity, to aid in disease and insect management, to maintain large fruit size and quality, and to develop an appropriate growth habit for harvesting. Proper pruning balances the production of strong, new wood while maintaining good fruit production. When plants are pruned too lightly, they become dense, with weak, twiggy growth, and fail to develop strong new wood for future fruit production. Severe pruning leads to the production of fewer, larger berries and more new wood.
Experience is the best guide on how much to prune.
The best time to prune is from January to mid-March, during the dormant period. However, blueberries can be pruned any time from the end of harvest to bud break the following spring. By pruning in late winter, one can identify and remove winter-injured wood. Also, carbohydrates produced in late autumn will have had sufficient time to move into the roots and crown for storage. Annual pruning is essential for consistent production of high quality fruit.