Blueberry bushes need 1–4 inches (2.5–10 cm) of water per week. Give them 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water each week most of the year. Then, increase watering to 4 inches (10 cm) of water weekly after the fruit sets. Decrease the watering amount again after all the berries ripen. Do not water your plants daily. Watering your blueberries twice per week works best. Aim to keep the soil moist at all times. Blueberry bushes are easy to overwater, especially in the winter. So, make sure to change up your watering schedule with the weather.
How Much Water Do Blueberry Plants Need Per Day?
Blueberry plants do not need water every single day. Only water them once or twice per week. Give your plants 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week through most of the year. Skip watering your blueberry plants if it rains more than an inch in that week period.
- Blueberry plants don’t need to receive water every day.
- Give your bushes 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water 1–2 times per week.
- Do not water your blueberries if you receive more than 1 inch of rain in a week.
- Increase watering to 4 inches (10 cm) per week after fruit sets.
- You can tell fruit will set once the flower petals drop off the branches.
Blueberries need a lot of water to grow juicy berries. Increase watering to 4 inches (10 cm) per week after fruit sets. You can tell that’s going to happen by watching the flowers. The early green fruit appears soon after the flower petals drop off the branches. Proper watering is also a great way to protect your blueberry plants from frost.
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How Do You Water a Blueberry Bush?
Water your blueberry bushes deeply once or twice per week year-round. Water around the base of the bush at the soil level. Do not allow water to splash up onto the leaves and fruit. A soaker hose is one of the best tools for watering blueberry bushes or fruit in raised beds. Water for 3-45 minutes once per week with a soaker hose to provide about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water. This is ideal for watering blueberries before fruit sets and after harvest.
- Water blueberries at the base of the plant with this soaker hose.
- Blueberries need 30-45 minutes of watering with a soaker hose once per week before the fruit sets.
- Once fruit sets, increase watering to two 30-minute watering sessions per week with the soaker hose.
- Use this timer to automatically water your blueberries for a precise length of time.
- Sturdy and heavy-duty soaker hose.
- Perfect for watering plants and flowers in your garden.
- Available in a variety of sizes.
Once fruit sets, increase watering to 60 minutes with a soaker hose per week. It’s best to split this amount into two 30-minute watering sessions per week. You can hook your soaker hose to a timer for automated watering. This will make creating and maintaining a watering schedule easy.
- Advanced Scheduling: This easy-to-use 7-day digital timer is ideal for use with hose-end sprinklers, drip irrigation, and soaker hose, allowing you to program up to two watering times per day, any day(s) of the week.
- Flexible Watering: It's perfect for watering all areas of your yard, including gardens, landscaping beds, and both newly seeded and established lawns, with a working water pressure of 15 psi (minimum) – 90 psi (maximum).
- User Control: Instant override buttons for Rain Delay (cancel watering) and Water Now (manual watering) provide full control, while the device displays program status such as the next scheduled cycle and time remaining on the current cycle.
Do Blueberry Plants Like Wet or Dry Soil?
Blueberry plants do not like overly wet or dry soil. Instead, these bushes thrive in consistently moist soil. Always check the soil moisture level before watering. A soil moisture meter provides precise measurements. But it’s often easier just to push your finger into the soil to see if it feels wet. If the soil feels soggy or swampy, it’s too wet for your blueberries. If it is dry to the touch, then your blueberries need water.
- Blueberry bushes do not prefer wet or dry soil.
- Blueberries thrive in soil that’s kept evenly moist.
- Check the soil moisture level before watering.
- Mulch can help keep the soil at the right moisture level.
- Use pine needle mulch for the best results when growing blueberries.
Add mulch to help keep the soil at the right moisture level for blueberry growth. Sawdust and sphagnum peat moss can work well. Pine needles are best though. Pine needle mulch prevents water from evaporating too fast. Plus, they help make the soil more acidic for blueberries, which helps your berries thrive.
Can You Overwater Blueberry Bushes?
The risk of overwatering blueberries is highest in the winter. Give your plants 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week unless they’re setting fruit. Do not provide more than an inch of water or you’ll risk drowning your plants’ roots. Waterlogged roots can get enough oxygen to support healthy growth.
- It’s possible to overwater your blueberry bushes, especially in the winter.
- Give your plants 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water unless they’re setting berries.
- You can provide 1 inch of water through 30-45 minutes of watering with a soaker hose.
- Extra water will leave your roots waterlogged and unable to absorb oxygen.
- Water less often whenever rainfall exceeds 1 inch in your area.
- You don’t usually need to increase watering during high temperatures.
Watch the weather carefully before watering your plants. Skip watering if rainfall amounts exceed 1 inch for the week. You do not need to increase watering when temperatures rise. High temperatures usually occur during the fruiting stage. So, your plants will already be getting 4 inches (10 cm) of water weekly.
How Do You Know If Blueberry Plants Need Water?
Blueberry plants need water whenever the soil starts to dry out. The bushes do best when the soil stays evenly moist. Blueberries need the most water when the fruit starts to set. Your plants cannot create big, juicy berries without lots of water.
- Blueberries need water whenever the soil begins to feel dry.
- The soil should stay moist to keep the blueberry bushes growing strong.
- Water is extremely important when the fruit starts to set on the branches.
- Always check the moisture level of the soil before watering your plants.
- Use this soil moisture meter or your finger to determine if it’s time to water.
Always check the soil moisture levels before watering. A soil moisture meter provides accurate results on demand. You can check the soil with your finger as well. Just push your finger into the soil around the base of your blueberry bushes. Add more water if the soil doesn’t feel moist.
- Measure the moisture in your soil.
- Portable and easy to place anywhere in your garden.
- No batteries are needed.
Do Blueberry Bushes Require Lots of Water?
Blueberry bushes only require lots of water when setting fruit. They do best with a low to moderate amount of water otherwise. In order to provide the proper amount of water for your blueberries, follow these tips:
- Blueberries need 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water each week before they set fruit and after harvest ends.
- When blueberries are growing fruit, they require 4 inches (10 cm) of water per week.
- Water blueberries for 30-45 minutes with a soaker hose once per week before they set fruit.
- Once flower petals drop off your blueberry plants, increase watering to 2 weekly 30-minute watering sessions with a soaker hose.
- Subtract rainfall from your watering needs to prevent overwatering.
- Blueberries prefer consistently moist soil—overly wet or dry soil is bad for their health.
- Allow the soil to dry out slightly if it feels soggy or waterlogged.
- Provide water whenever the soil at the base of your blueberries is dry to the touch.
Giving your blueberry bushes the right amount of water will pay off in the form of many big, juicy berries. So, it’s well worth figuring out just how to give your plants what they need to thrive year after year.
