As an easy to grow perennial that can produce dependable crops of sweetened and juicy fruits each twelvemonth , it ’s no wonder the blueberry is a popular selection for home gardeners .

on occasion , these comparatively low upkeep shrubs may benefit from being relocated .

Perhaps you’vepropagated new bushes . Or they have outgrown their blank or are not thriving in their current location . Or maybe you ’re moving and do n’t need to leave those well like for bushes behind !

A close up horizontal image of a gardener on the right of the frame holding a blueberry bush in a black plastic bag ready for transplanting, pictured in light sunshine.

Whatever the reason , transfer blueberries is easy to do .

As long as you keep an eye on a few uncomplicated guidelines , you could move them from one place to another without damage flora or fruit production .

record on to learn the best way to transplantation blueberry .

Close up of a cluster of ripe blueberries hanging from the bush.

What You’ll Learn

prepare to Transplant

transfer Tips

Water Water Water

A close up vertical image of clusters of ripe blueberries growing on the shrub pictured on a soft focus background. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

The process of relocating a blueberry shrub is pretty straightforward .

Just be sure to time the organ transplant appropriately , take a suitable website , and provide decent water following the big move .

transplantation should take place during dormancy if possible . These bush have shallow origin , and disrupting them during active development can make stress to the works .

A horizontal image of the new shoots of a blueberry bush in springtime pictured on a soft focus background.

By dig them up during dormancy , plants have clock time to retrieve from graft shock before the growing time of year begins .

In mild climates , this is typically anytime between November and March . In colder locations , it will be after leaves have pretermit in the fall but before the footing freeze , or in other bound once the basis is executable .

There is more flexibility when transplantingcontainer plant , since the tributary beginning are more probable to delay intact than when they are being grok from the primer .

A close up horizontal image of a hand from the right of the frame holding a blueberry transplant growing in a black plastic bag.

Even so , it is salutary to stick to spring or descend and avert the hot summertime sun .

When you are ready to transplant , get hold a new spot with conditions suit to grow blueberries . The land site should ideally be in full sun , with rich well - drained acidulous soil .

You canpurchase a plate test kitto serve you set the pH of the soil . It should be somewhere between 4.0 and 5.0 . Learn your soil in this guidebook .

A close up horizontal image of two hands from the left of the frame loosening the roots of a potted plant prior to planting out in the garden.

If soil is too alkalic , taste working in a duad inches ofpeat moss , shredded pine bark , orcomposted leafage moldprior to planting .

you may even sprinkle afew handfuls of used coffee groundsat the planting site to increase acidity .

Once the new land site is quick , it is time to dig up the shrub .

A close up horizontal image of a hole in the garden surrounded by overgrown lawn.

practice a flat shovel to moil straight downward into the soil about a infantry out from the bow of the plant . Since the roots are shallow , you wo n’t take to go more than a foot or so deep .

skid the shovel horizontally under the root and rustle lightly . Continue in a Mexican valium around the shrub until you are capable to well pull out it barren .

If you are transplant a potted flora , use a garden knife to mildly loosen the soil around the border and then remove it from its container .

A close up horizontal image of a gardener pouring sawdust into a hole dug in the garden prior to planting.

If it has become root bound , you’re able to use your hand or pruning hook to cautiously pry apart the ending of the roots .

It is right to replant blueberries that you have dug up right away .

If this is n’t possible , you could enclose the root chunk in credit card and set the bush in a sheltered placement out of direct sun until it can be constitute , but do not waitress longer than a few days .

A close up horizontal image of a gardener planting a shrub in the garden.

When you are ready to embed , dig a hole just deeper and extensive than the etymon ball .

you may add a small sawdust , compost pine bark , coffee grounds , or peat moss to the hole to increase acidity if necessary .

Place the shrub in the trap and backfill with soil .

A close up horizontal image of a hand from the left of the frame watering blueberry shrubs with a hose gun.

Mulch with a few inches of pine needles , shredded pine barque , or sawdust , leaving two to three inches unmulched around the stem .

If establish multiple shrubs , plan to go away at least five or six feet between each .

Water profoundly forthwith after plant , and continue to water often , making sure the top column inch of soil always remains damp .

A horizontal image of ripe blueberries growing on the bush in early fall pictured on a soft focus background.

blueberry have shallow roots , and surface roots can dry out out well . It is therefore important to water deeply and regularly to avert this .

Shrubs should receiveat least an inch of waterper week and up to four inches during fruiting .

A deluge hoseworks well because it will render pee right away to the roots .

Just the Ticket

It ’s a good affair transplanting blueberry is so easy . Sometimes , this can be precisely what is needed to animate an underperforming bush .

Just follow the tips described above and before you know it , your blueberry bush Bush will be expand !

And for more entropy aboutgrowing blueberriesin your garden , check out these guide next :

© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally published March 21st , 2021 . Last update April 28th , 2025 . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .

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Heather Buckner