Knowledgebase
Run away blue berries #876145
Asked July 06, 2024, 7:42 PM EDT
Columbia County Oregon
Expert Response
Without seeing them, that is the best I can offer. Cutting completely to the ground will produce a a whole bunch of shoots. Keep the 5 to 6 best ones and remove the rest.
You could try pruning them slightly higher but you will still need to limit the number of new shoots you keep.
Here are some links that might help but there is little on reviving bushes as tall as you have. Hope this helps. Chip Bubl. OSU Exgtension Agent/Columbia County (retired) <personal data hidden>. <personal data hidden>
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/revitalize_blueberries_with_renovation
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/restore-overgrown-highbush-blueberries-74560.html
https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2069/2021/02/BROCHURE-Blueberry-Pruning-revised-2_6_2021.pdf
https://polk.extension.wisc.edu/files/2014/02/Blueberry-Pruning-Rejuvenation.pdf
https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/pick-pruners-and-head-blueberries
Winter, once they are dormant, is the traditional time. You could experiment. It is very hard to kill a blueberry plant. Chip