Blueberry bushes are common garden shrubs that produce fruit on perennial wood. These plants are generally self-supporting woody shrubs with enough inherent structural rigidity to stand upright without external assistance. They do not require the extensive trellising or staking necessary for vining plants like grapes. However, exceptions exist based on the specific variety and environmental conditions, which can necessitate structural intervention.
Natural Growth Habit
Blueberry plants are classified as perennial woody shrubs, deriving strength from a crown that produces multiple upright, rigid stems known as canes. These canes become increasingly lignified, or woody, as they mature, forming a self-supporting architecture that bears the weight of foliage and fruit. New shoots emerge from the base of the plant each spring, replacing older, less productive wood. Proper annual pruning is important for maintaining this natural, strong structure by removing weak, old, or crowded canes. This selective removal ensures the plant’s energy is directed toward younger, more vigorous canes that efficiently support a heavy fruit load.
Factors Requiring Structural Assistance
While generally robust, certain factors can compromise a blueberry bush’s structural integrity, making support necessary. Highbush varieties, which can reach heights of six to eight feet, may become top-heavy, causing canes to sprawl outwards, especially when laden with a heavy crop. Rabbiteye varieties, which can grow even taller, also exhibit a tendency to become leggy and less stable over time. Furthermore, some narrow, upright Highbush cultivars are prone to developing structural weaknesses called “bark inclusions” at the crown where crowded canes meet, weakening their attachment point and predisposing them to splitting.
Excessive fruit production creates a significant mechanical load that can cause healthy canes to bend sharply or break entirely. This bending, known as lodging, can expose fruit to pests and disease near the ground. Environmental extremes also play a role, as strong winds can cause physical breakage of brittle canes or uprooting of the entire plant. In commercial settings, wind damage often necessitates immediate staking to salvage and re-establish the root system of lodged plants.
Methods for Securing Blueberry Bushes
When structural support is required, several practical solutions can be implemented to stabilize the bush and its canes. For young plants with weak, flexible stems or mature bushes partially uprooted by wind, simple staking provides sufficient stabilization. A wooden or metal stake can be driven into the ground near the cane and secured loosely with soft tie material like cloth strips or flexible twine. This temporary support encourages upright growth and helps re-establish the root system, ensuring the material does not girdle the growing wood.
For mature bushes that sprawl widely under a heavy fruit load, caging or hooping techniques offer collective support to the entire plant mass. This involves placing a wire mesh cage or a circular tomato cage around the perimeter of the bush to contain the outward movement of the canes. Commercial growers often utilize systems such as the T-trellis or V-trellis, which use posts and horizontal wires to systematically train the canes. These trellises are useful for managing the canopy of Highbush varieties, keeping fruit-laden branches upright for easier harvesting and better air circulation.