To harvest, we'd lift the netting to access the plants. Winter Care for Blueberry Bushes. Wrap loosely a clear piece of lightweight plastic over the pot and place in indirect sunlight. Most blueberry varieties don't grow well in areas that have hot summers and mild winters. For good blueberry plant care, you may also want to consider pruning your bushes as needed. My 9-year-old son Alex and I just put up a post (and a short video he stars in :)) about how we built a similar blueberry cage for our row of 5 blueberry bushes. Often, newly planted shrubs and trees benefit from protection for the first one to three winters, but are winter-tolerant once they are well established. We’re also using PVC, garden mesh netting, and zip ties. Don’t glue them together so the frame can be easily disassembled; press them together or use screws. The need for protection also depends on the type of plant. Where did you get the landscape pins? Remember that they need full sun to do well. Covering plants with burlap can also protect plants from winter burn, a damaging condition caused by a combination of winter sunlight and depleted soil moisture. We’ve also added velcro zip ties for the front flap, so we can open and close the whole front of the cage (it’s about 10 feet wide). To cover a plant with burlap, begin by placing three or four wooden or stakes around the plant, allowing a few inches of space between the stakes and the plant. Continue wrapping until the entire bush is covered. https://myhomeupgrades.com/blueberry-cage/. This highbush blueberry grows approximately 5 feet tall and wide. Welcome to The Kitchen Garten! You can also mulch your plants with straw or wrap them in burlap. Read more about mulching. Thanks for stopping by! Create a temporary enclosure by cutting a length of chicken wire fencing and bending the loose wires together to make a small cage, to place around individual blueberry bushes. Depending on the variety of blueberry bushes you are propagating, it will take somewhere between two to several weeks for the cuttings to take root. Rake any bark mulch surrounding blueberry bushes away from them. add a tasty element to the home fruit garden. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Pink Lemonade. Arch shaped frames are stronger than squares. Read on to learn more. They have been unsuccessful in breaching these cages. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Remove the burlap as soon as the weather moderates, but leave the stakes in place so you can cover the plant quickly in the event of another cold snap. I’d check out your local plumbing store and see if they have something that would work. Broadleaf evergreen shrubs such as azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons often require covering during extreme cold. Bury the chicken wire about six inches deep. In the winter while the plants are dormant, they don’t need much water. However, burlap is handy to have around in the event of an unexpected dip in temperatures. Tagged: blueberry, DIY, gardening. Works great. Although turning them sideways, rolling them up against the … Remove the stakes in spring when you’re sure freezing weather has passed. Blueberries need 1 to 2 … Determine how tall and wide you’d like your blueberry bush cover. If you have insufficient lighting, use a grow light. What a great idea! Zones 4 to 8. Read more articles about Environmental Problems. Although not as worrisome as plastic, if burlap becomes wet and freezes, it can still possibly damage the plant. In a pinch, however, it shouldn’t harm the plant to wrap in burlap or drape over the plant directly if cold, dry weather is imminent. Growing up on the farm, mom had several large blueberry bushes that produced reliably each year. Covering plants with burlap can also protect plants from winter burn, a damaging condition caused by a combination of winter sunlight and depleted soil moisture. These are hybrid bushes whose size is between a high and lowbush blueberry, averaging around 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. Not all plants require protection during the winter. The right time for planting blueberry bushes is early to mid spring. I really like your design for individual blueberry bushes. Wrapping plants with burlap is a relatively simple way to protect the plants from winter frost, snow and ice. Drape a double layer of burlap over the stakes and secure the material to the stakes with staples. Most experts recommend that you not allow the burlap to touch the foliage if you can help it. Protect the blueberry bush from cold winter winds and ice damage by wrapping it in burlap. My problem is squirrels. They cleaned out my plum tree in one day, and start in on my green pomegranates. As to the bird netting, gray electric conduit holds up better under sunlight; pvc pipe is made to go under ground; pvc pipe fittings work with plastic conduit too. 1. So if his blueberries are growing in something huge, like half whiskey barrels, he might be able to cage them, fill the cages with shredded leaves, wrap burlap around the cages and leave them out in the yard. How to Build Blueberry Bush Covers. I used chicken wire instead of netting. Potted plants, which are more susceptible to cold, may need several layers of burlap to protect the roots. With your PVC pipe, cut – 4 height-wise lengths (ex. Hi Nichole, you would need a different kind of joint, one that allowed for the top pieces to arch instead of going straight across. I made these about 4 years ago for my dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit trees. They also need consistent watering to fruit well. Start at the top of the plant and cover the bush with burlap, pinning the material together. Mulch to keep shallow blueberry root systems moist, which is essential. We actually have a larger and smaller bush, so we made two different sizes. Blueberries are tough plants, but if you live in a cold-winter climate you should move your containers against a building or into a protected area to keep them out of the wind. Burlap is more effective than plastic because it allows the plant to breathe so air circulates and heat isn’t trapped. In case you’re interested, you can see the photos and Alex’s video here: https://myhomeupgrades.com/blueberry-cage/.