In the wild, native blueberries love to huddle together in sunny forest clearings. However, the cultivated blueberries we grow in our backyards need a little more breathing room to really thrive. If you’re wondering exactly how much space to give your bushes, here’s the scoop.
Don’t crowd your blueberry bushes
If you’re dreaming of a lush blueberry patch or even a fruiting hedge, it’s tempting to pack them in tight to get that “wall of green” look. But for the healthiest plants, you’ll want to keep at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) between each bush.
Planning on planting several rows? Make sure to leave about 8 feet (2.5 meters) of space between those rows. This gives you plenty of elbow room for routine maintenance and makes harvesting those delicious berries so much easier—you won’t have to squeeze between prickly branches to reach the best fruit!
If your backyard soil isn’t quite right (blueberries can be picky about pH!), growing them in containers is a fantastic workaround. This even allows you to grow blueberries on a balcony or patio. Some gardeners even choose to sink the entire pot right into the garden bed. If you go that route, just remember to stick to the same spacing rules mentioned above.
