Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Blueberry Tree

laurenjfrylaurenjfry Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi, first time poster :) Can anybody help identify what could be the problem with my blueberry tree? The leaves are getting rustier and blotchier by the day, and what looked like was going to be a great harvest, is now looking like it's dying rapidly. I have tried fertiliser with nitrogen a couple of days ago but it hasn't improved as yet. Is it a goner? 


Posts

  • Chrissy the gardenerChrissy the gardener Posts: 1,072
    Oh gosh it doesn’t look happy
    have you wet the leaves when the sun was on the plant, it does look scorched?
    i think if it was mine and if it’s in a pot I would put it in the shade and hope it would get new leaves,I don’t think the fruit will recover.

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    How much are you watering? These shrubs are sensitive to lack of water. In the current heat, you need to water it daily and water deep so you see excess water pouring out of the pot. At the moment, try to place it somewhere shady. Hopefully, the plant will slowly recover. But you may not regain full leaves for this year.
  • laurenjfrylaurenjfry Posts: 2
    Ok, great, thanks both. It probably would benefit from a bit of shade as it's definitely got worse in this hot weather. We have been watering well but since the water butt ran out I'm guessing it may not like our hard water. 
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    You will need to use tap water if the water butt is dry, that shouldn't be an issue, since it is only a temporary measure. 
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Any tips on making tap water more suitable for blueberries? Mine are in the allotment and no access to rain water there at the moment 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Are you using an ericaceous feed for your plant - something like an azalea fertilizer?

    Not much you can do re. your hard tap water. Leaving it to stand for 24 hrs will allow the chlorine to evaporate, which is one less bad thing for your plant. But as said above, using tap water as a temporary measure should be ok, but they would appreciate some shade to help them de-stress a bit

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    debs64 said:
    Any tips on making tap water more suitable for blueberries? Mine are in the allotment and no access to rain water there at the moment 
    There was a comment on another similar thread that if you let the tap water stand for 24 hours with a tea bag in it, it'll be better for acid lovers. I think the question was about azaleas but it's the same principle.
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
Sign In or Register to comment.