Q: I have over one hundred rabbiteye blueberry plants, some almost 20 years old, and they need pruning. I get conflicting information on the proper time to prune. Please tell me when will be the best time.

A: Blueberries flower and fruit the heaviest on new limbs which grow horizontally. After harvest, go out and select for removal the oldest and tallest limbs on each plant. My preference is to have a plant no taller than seven feet when finished. I make sure to leave several leafy sprouts originating from ground level. When vigorous new vertical sprouts come, this fall or next spring, pinch out the tips when they reach six feet tall. This will result in plenty of horizontal branches and lots of blueberries for you next year.

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