When do you transplant blueberry plants?

Answer 1

Late winter or early spring, when the plant has no leaves showing. Some people use the old adage, only transplant in a month that has an "r" in it. Have the new hole all set up before you dig. Make sure it is acidic enough, pH 4.5 - 5. Peat moss and pine needles or pine bark will help decrease the pH. Blueberries have shallow roots. Get as much of the native soil as you can. Place it immediately in the prepared site. Make sure the peat moss fully wet, and be sure it is "trapped" underground. Peat moss on the surface can act like a wick and draw the moisture out of the ground. Mulch heavily with pine needles or pine bark. Water heavily when first planted, then never let it get too dry. Pinch off flowers the first year, this lets the plant focus it's energy on root growth and surviving the shock of transplant. Don't fertilize the first year, it will only damage the roots. Fertilize with a plant food for acid-loving plants (such as Holly Tone) the next spring, when the plant flowers. This is the ONLY time you should fertilize blueberry plants. Fertilizing after flowering makes the plant more susceptible to winter injury the next winter.