This results in a small, restricted root system supporting a relatively large plant. Space blueberry plants about 3 feet apart. Blueberries require well-draining, acidic soils with plenty of organic matter to thrive. Test your soil by digging a teaspoon of soil from around the base of a blueberry bush with a garden trowel. Dig the holes large enough to accommodate all the roots and deep enough so you can cover the uppermost roots with 3 to 4 inches of soil. As the soil water drains away, there is little reason for the plant roots to grow into the relatively dry sand. Just because blueberries are easy to grow does not make them trouble-free, but if your blueberry bushes appear unhealthy, diagnosing the problem is not difficult. Problems. Lowering the pH with sulfur will usually correct the problem. Plants should be mulched annually. Plant young blueberry bushes in late April or early May. Growing Blueberry Problems. For a complete background on how to grow blueberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning. Blueberries are usually pest and disease free, but can occasionally suffer from vine weevil, powdery mildew and Phytophthora root rot. The ends of some branches are browning. Then dig down 3 inches and take a second teaspoon of soil. Asked July 1, 2020, 1:22 AM EDT. are well suited for home gardens. Blueberry bush problem . The leaves have spots and look unhealthy. I have a blueberry bush in a pot which is not thriving. The disease has very obvious symptoms for which to watch. The fruits need plenty of water but tend to get fungal issues if not treated or when … Blueberries with stem blight experience cane death, which can result in the fatality of the plant if it is widespread. Leaves are yellow: Yellowing is … The bush variety is Brunswick lowbush - Vaccinium angustifolium Brunswick C1 Any ideas what the problem is? Scale Usually on bark of young twigs and branches, encrusted with small (1/16”) hard, circular, scaly raised bumps with yellow centers, may also be on fruit. Iron deficiency symptoms develop first in young leaves. Blueberry scorch can spread rapidly. Brown leaves on a blueberry bush might simply be the result of improper soil, watering or light conditions. Pine chips or needles are ideal for this because of their natural acidity. A high soil pH (>5.2) results in the inability of the blueberry plant to use iron, causing a lack of chlorophyll production. The fruit fly - spotted wing drosophila (SWD) - is likely to become an increasing problem. If no known blueberry scorch exists in close proximity to a grower's field, scorch should not become a problem. If the variety you purchase is listed as growing larger than that, then space them a little further apart. The soil pH should be between 4 and 5.5. The spread of the virus has been recorded only over short distances. Birds can be a problem, protect the ripening fruit with netting. Blueberry bushes start leafing out in early spring and flower in late spring. The peat mixtures used to grow blueberry plants hold water very well, but the sandy soils in many blueberry plantings do not. Small drupes form and swell as the summer sun ripens them. Can anything be done to save the plant? Stem blight of blueberry is especially dangerous on 1- to 2-year plants, but it affects mature bushes as well. A small planting of blueberries can provide an ample supply of quality fruit for home use; however, it will probably have insect pest problems. Blueberry bushes (Vaccinium spp.) The best method of control is to plant virus-free stock. I recently purchased a dwarf Northsky blueberry bush from a mail order company. 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