I'm setting up a raised bed garden with four 4'x8' beds, each 32 inches high. I've got three blueberry plants and I'm wondering if I can prune them to keep them shorter and bushier, so I don't have to use a ladder to pick the berries. I'm also thinking about planting strawberries underneath the blueberries to make the most out of my space. Is this a good idea, or will the blueberries mess them up?
3 Answers
To keep blueberries shorter and bushier, you'll want to choose the right variety. Some blueberries are naturally more compact than others. Just a heads up: blueberries like acidic soil, so strawberries probably won't thrive if planted underneath them.
Be careful with pruning; if you prune blueberries too much, it might affect your fruit production. They really just need old growth canes cut back to the ground occasionally. Plus, make sure your soil pH is around 5 for best results. That's from years of experience growing blueberries on my own land!
Fantastic info. Thank you!
You might want to consider low bush blueberries or wild blueberries, depending on your location. They tend to stay shorter and can fit well in your garden setup.
Thanks for the tip! I was looking into companion planting. Maybe I need to rethink that layout.