The lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium 'Chippewa'), also called the half-high blueberry is an excellent edible you can grow in your yard. A fully mature bush can get as big as 3 to 4 ft, and used as a hedge. A very nice aspect of the V. ‘Chippewa’ is it grows in sun and in part shade which makes it more versatile for front and backyards. However, it doesn't do very well in lots of shade.
The bush usually takes a couple of years to really start producing fruit. A good eye for pruning will speed the sweet blueberries to appear while encouraging the plant to fill out full and strong. best time of the year to trim it is in late winter, but wait to do any significant cutting until the third year after planting it in your yard.
The bush usually takes a couple of years to really start producing fruit. A good eye for pruning will speed the sweet blueberries to appear while encouraging the plant to fill out full and strong. best time of the year to trim it is in late winter, but wait to do any significant cutting until the third year after planting it in your yard.
Photo by mricon
The lowbush will attract butterflies and birds as well as deer, so you have to keep them safe. For deer, you'll need some kind of fencing. Birds can pick a bush clean as well. If the goal of having low bush in your yard is to eat the blueberries, you'll have to protect it from birds too. Some people have had lots of success with owl and cat statues near the bushes. I'd avoid netting to keep birds away. They may get tangled up and injured in it.
Go big with lowbush blueberries. Plant, at least, 6 to 10 in an area. Aim to make a statement with them. Add some large rocks between the bushes for a dramatic contrast. You'll be happy you did, because the foliage is vibrant with color in autumn. The bigger the patch, the more stunning your your yard will be as fall creeps in.
I like to use lowbush blueberries as an accent plant to create a backdrop for other more flowing plants like grass and flowers. They also couple will near spicebushes. They can manage wet soil, so I use them in rain gardens as much as possible. If you don't have the space in your yard or you don't have a fence to protect them, you can also plant them in containers for your patio, deck or front stoop. Sometimes when the bush is close to a door, it deters wildlife from munching on them (but that's not a given, just sometimes). The goal for any edible backyard is to couple traditional vegetables like tomatoes, beets and green beans with more native, wild edibles. The result will always be more interesting and more educational, plus sustainable.
Go big with lowbush blueberries. Plant, at least, 6 to 10 in an area. Aim to make a statement with them. Add some large rocks between the bushes for a dramatic contrast. You'll be happy you did, because the foliage is vibrant with color in autumn. The bigger the patch, the more stunning your your yard will be as fall creeps in.
I like to use lowbush blueberries as an accent plant to create a backdrop for other more flowing plants like grass and flowers. They also couple will near spicebushes. They can manage wet soil, so I use them in rain gardens as much as possible. If you don't have the space in your yard or you don't have a fence to protect them, you can also plant them in containers for your patio, deck or front stoop. Sometimes when the bush is close to a door, it deters wildlife from munching on them (but that's not a given, just sometimes). The goal for any edible backyard is to couple traditional vegetables like tomatoes, beets and green beans with more native, wild edibles. The result will always be more interesting and more educational, plus sustainable.
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