Knowing how often water blueberries need depends on your time of year and growth stage. During your regular growing season give your bushes about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of water each week. When your berries start ripening on your branches increase that amount to 4 inches (10 centimeters) per week. This extra water makes your berries plump and sweet.
I learned the right moisture level through touch after a few seasons of watching my plants respond to water. Your soil should feel like a wrung out sponge when you stick your finger down a couple inches. Damp but not dripping wet tells you your roots have what they need right now. Dry crumbly soil means you waited too long between waterings for your plants.
My neighbor and I both planted blueberries the same spring but got very different results at first from our plants. She watered hers every day thinking more was better for her bushes in her yard. Her plants got root rot and nearly died from too much water in the soil. I checked my soil before each watering and only added water when my plants needed it. My plants thrived while hers struggled.
Blueberry roots stay near your surface in the top 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) of soil. This makes them quick to dry out during hot weather when the sun bakes your upper soil layer. But those same roots also suffer when they sit in water too long after heavy rain in your yard. You need to find the balance between too wet and too dry for your plants.
The Arbor Day Foundation gives clear guidance on your blueberry watering schedule for home growers. Their research shows 1 inch per week works well during normal growth in your spring and early summer. Jump to 4 inches per week once you see your berries forming on your branches. This extra water plumps up your fruit before your harvest time comes.
Your watering blueberry plants method matters as much as how much water you give them each time. Drip lines or soaker hoses work best for you because they put water right at your root zone. Overhead sprinklers waste your water to evaporation and wet your leaves too much. Wet leaves can spread fungal diseases to your plants. Lay your hose under your mulch for best results.
A rain gauge helps you track how much water nature provides so you can adjust as needed for your plants. Set one in your blueberry patch and check it after each rain storm passes through your area. Subtract that amount from your weekly target and add the rest with your hose or irrigation system. This prevents both under watering and over watering through your growing season.
Mulch acts as your secret weapon for keeping your soil moisture steady between your watering days. A 4 inch (10 centimeter) layer of pine bark or wood chips slows evaporation from your soil. Mulch also keeps your roots cooler during hot spells and adds organic matter over time. Refresh your mulch layer each spring to keep good coverage around each of your plants.
Check your soil by hand before each scheduled watering to make sure your plants need more water that day. Push your finger down into your mulch and soil about 2 inches deep near the base. If your soil still feels damp then skip watering for another day or two for your plants. If it feels dry and crumbly then give your bushes a good drink right away.
Read the full article: Growing Blueberries: 7 Steps for Success
