Japanese Blueberry Trees a Fresh Pick for Florida Landscapes
Japanese blueberry trees don’t loaf around. They’re too busy flanking entrance ways or serving up quiet privacy for Florida residences. Fit for a castle or a cottage, these unsung evergreens will grow on you for their lush dense foliage and elegant versatility. Plus, they’re an excellent alternative to the more mainstream hollies.
Japanese blueberries require two major things: full sun and well-drained quality soil. You can branch-trim or prune them into cone shapes depending how formal you want to go. Most homeowners maintain the foliage all the way to the ground, but you can also achieve a classic tree shape by removing the lower branches if you like. Shape three times a year max so as not to compromise their health. Warm weather months are best, between mid-March and mid-October.
Meanwhile, the question that’s on your mind: Are the blueberries edible? No, unless you’re a deer. Some take a shine to Japanese blueberries, so you just have to keep an eye out. Shouldn’t be a big problem, though, unless you live in a deer habitat. Birds, bees and butterflies love them, too. In spring and summer, you’ll see tiny white flowers pop out. In the fall and winter, pointed leaves will turn red before dropping, contrasting beautifully with the dark-green leathery foliage.
Planting & Care Requirements
Now let’s talk about those planting requirements. Get this right and you’ll have little to worry about. Install your Japanese blueberries in good fertile soil that’s well-drained, then water on a regular basis. If the roots stay overly wet, you’ll be looking at some sad soggy trees. Fertilize with a quality palm fertilizer in March, June and October. We recommend you spring for the 25-gallon size or larger as these trees are slow growers. They’ll reach up to 40 feet but are more often seen in the 15- to 20-foot range.
So where to plant? Japanese blueberry trees thrive when artfully placed. They can soldier in rows down a driveway. Stand guard by massive water fountains. Serve as sleek backdrop plantings. Or hang out in casual clusters as though they just arrived for a party. Even one large Japanese blueberry tree can steal the show as a neat and tidy centerpiece of your landscape.
Contact ArtisTree Landscape
Japanese blueberry trees are yours for the picking — you just have to ask. Contact ArtisTree Landscape at 941.488.8897 and let’s get your dream landscape project off the ground. Live in an HOA community and wish everyone’s landscape looked better? ArtisTree can provide your property manager with a full-service landscape maintenance proposal. Contact Mike Casper at 941.488.8897. We proudly maintain premier HOA communities throughout Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.
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