Blueberry leaves turn stunning shades of crimson and orange in autumn. 77 $11.33 $11.33. This keep the wild rabbits at bay in winter. One year after planting, apply 1 ounce of 10-10-10 fertilizer per bush in the spring at blooming time, and increase the rate by 1 ounce each year thereafter to a maximum of 8 ounces for mature bushes. To harvest, we'd lift the netting to access the plants. Many blueberry varieties are hardy, but they will appreciate a thin layer of mulch around their base for added protection. Each winter, prune out old, weak and dead wood. FREE Shipping. In all three cases, cover crops help to improve soil structure and organic matter content, and suppress weeds and possibly nematodes. ... so for right now we only have a four foot tall fence around the enclosure. Blueberry shrubs are generally winter hardy, except for certain varieties that are sold & grown in the south. I mulch our blueberry shrubs in the fall with about 8 inches of shredded maple tree leaves, but I don't think that they really need it. Many blueberry varieties grown in the Upper Midwest were bred for this climate by the University of Minnesota, making them right at home in the Minnesota home garden. 5. We have the leaves available and I use them for this purpose. Planting on a slope or the east side of a house or other building creates warmer conditions during the colder months. Without protection, they do serious damage to our blueberry plants. Warning: Blueberries are a favorite snack of hungry birds, so it’s recommended that you protect blueberry bushes ahead of time by draping bird netting over your plants. productivity of a blueberry planting. Water your perennial flowers and flowering shrubs in the fall; they will thank you for it this winter. Blueberry plants grow slowly, and they may not seem to get much bigger from year to year. Step 2 Maintain moist soil during cold months to help protect blueberry bushes from freezing temperatures. Prepare Perennials for Winter. Plant blueberry bushes in a location which is protected from winds, since cold winds during the winter can damage the bushes. Cover strawberry beds with a layer of straw mulch. Near harvest time, she'd cover each bush with blueberry netting. $10.77 $ 10. Depending on rainfall, I might water the shrubs in October and November. 4.3 out of 5 stars 740. Cover crops can be used before the blueberries are planted, plants can be set into a killed cover crop, and cover crops can be seeded between the rows of established plantings. Agfabric Plant Covers Freeze Protection - 0.95oz H40 x W60 Frost Cover, White Shrub Cover for Winter Frost Protection, Season Extension.