Knowledgebase

Blueberry bushes #813248

Asked October 05, 2022, 11:02 AM EDT

I've lived in my home since 1999 (Willow Spring, NC). There were blueberry bushes there planted by the previous owner. They produced blueberries great for 10+ years. The last years however, the plants appear to exert more 'energy' for new branch growth than berries. I haven't had a good crop since this has been occurring. I prune them almost yearly, I have forgotten on occasion. I'm open to suggestions to correct this.

Wake County North Carolina

Expert Response

I would certainly recommend a soil test, because blueberries simply won't grow, be vigorous, or produce a good crop of blueberries unless the pH is below 5.  The ph should preferably be 3.8-4.8.  If your blueberries are near the lawn, you may have limed and gradually the pH has gone up. 
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/growing-blueberries-in-the-home-garden

I will include below some information on soil testing.  
If your pH is high, you will add elemental sulfur to lower the pH. Be sure to note that you are growing blueberries on the sample information sheet that you submit. 



Soil samples are analyzed at the NCDA Agronomic Division at 4300 Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh, which is near the Museum of Art on Blue Ridge Road. The Soil Testing lab is part of the Agronomic Division. https://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/sthome.htm You may pick up soil test boxes there, and the information sheets that must be submitted with them (for your contact information, sample box numbers, and "crop" being grown). Sample results are emailed to you in a link, so print your email information carefully. If you don't live close to the soil lab, you can take the soil samples from your landscape and put them into labeled bags, and then once you arrive at the lab you can pick up boxes on the back dock and fill them up there. Plastic bags are not allowed in the boxes, however. You may print the information sheet out at home using this link (https://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/documents/FormAD-15_corrected_logo.pdf), or get one and fill it out once you arrive at the lab. Sample analysis is free from April 1 through November, and costs $4 per sample during other months of the year. If your test results don't arrive in your email within 10 working days, you may search for them on their website https://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/pals/
Taking a good sample is critical for best results - follow these instructions for collecting your sample(s) (https://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/pdffiles/samhome.pdf). If you have soil testing questions you may call the NCDA Agronomic Division at<personal data hidden>.
Our NC Extension Wake County Center office is located at 4001 Carya Drive in east Raleigh, off of Poole Road near the beltline. We have soil testing kits (boxes, information sheets) that you may pick up outside our front doors as well as inside the building and the Master Gardener office. You may drop your completed soil samples off at this location in the file cabinet inside the front doors. During the free season (April-Nov) we provide a drop-off service to NCDA as a convenience for people and they are delivered weekly to the soil lab.  Or for faster turnaround time you may deliver them to the NCDA directly.  
If you want to contact our Master Gardener volunteers with gardening questions, you may email at <personal data hidden>, or call<personal data hidden> and someone will return your call!

An Ask Extension Expert Replied October 06, 2022, 2:48 PM EDT

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