{"id":1910,"date":"2010-06-16T11:17:27","date_gmt":"2010-06-16T15:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/?page_id=1910"},"modified":"2025-09-10T09:38:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T13:38:52","slug":"prune-crop-management-schedule","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/","title":{"rendered":"Wild Blueberry Prune and Crop Management Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Prepared by David E. Yarborough, Extension Blueberry Specialist, The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469. \u00a0February 2010.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Prune Year Management Schedule<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div>\n<table style=\"width: 100%\" border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"6\" align=\"center\">\n<thead>\n<tr align=\"left\">\n<th style=\"text-align: left;vertical-align: top\" scope=\"col\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Timing<\/strong><\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align: left;vertical-align: top\" scope=\"col\" valign=\"center\" width=\"20%\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Type of Action<\/strong><\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align: left;vertical-align: top\" scope=\"col\" valign=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Action<\/strong><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>April<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image002_0004.jpg\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1915\" style=\"margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px\" title=\"New plants lay dormant.\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image002_0004.jpg\" alt=\"mulch\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Dormant &#8211; new plants not yet emerged.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Plant Care<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Prune plants to within 1 inch of ground by mowing or burning (prior year late fall to before bud break).<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000\"> Apply fertilizer preemergence according to leaf sample recommendations (after frost is out of ground prior to plant emergence or shortly after).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Apply preemergence herbicides prior to plant emergence.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\">Apply sulfur according to soil recommendations (after frost is out of ground prior to plant emergence).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>May<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"4\" valign=\"top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image004_0001.gif\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1917\" title=\"clip_image004_0001\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image004_0001.gif\" alt=\"New plants emerging after burn or mowing fields.\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Plants beginning to emerge after pruning.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Plant Care<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Prune plants to within 1 inch of ground by mowing or burning (prior year late fall to before bud break).<\/span> Apply fertilizer preemergence according to leaf sample recommendations if not applied earlier (after frost is out of ground prior to plant emergence or shortly after).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Apply preemergence herbicides prior to plant emergence if not applied earlier.<\/span> Apply sulfur according to soil recommendations not applied earlier (prior to plant emergence).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Insect Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Use a sweep net to sample for spanworm and flea beetle larvae (end of May) \u2013 apply control measures if counts exceed the threshold. Watch for late emerging plants which may indicate insect feeding below the surface.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>June<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image006_0000.gif\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1918\" title=\"clip_image006_0000\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image006_0000.gif\" alt=\"Plant stems in vegetative growth.\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Plant stems in vegetative growth.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Apply selective postemergence herbicides to weeds at 4 to 6 inches in height.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Insect Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Use a sweep net to sample for spanworm and flea beetle larvae \u2013 apply control measures if counts exceed the threshold.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\">Scout and trap for thrips &#8211; burn patches early or apply control measures timed to plant emergence according to recommendations.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>July<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"4\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image008.jpg\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1919\" title=\"clip_image008\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image008.jpg\" alt=\"Plant stems in vegetative growth to tip-die back stage.\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Plant stems in vegetative growth to tip-die backstage.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Plant Care<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Take leaf samples for nutrient tests at tip-die backstage &#8211; take soil samples for Ph.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Apply selective postemergence herbicides to weeds before they go to seed.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Insect Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Use a sweep net to sample for flea beetle adults and scout for red-striped fireworm \u2013 apply control measures if counts exceed the threshold.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>August<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image010.jpg\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1920\" title=\"clip_image010\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image010.jpg\" alt=\"Plant stems developing buds for crop year growth.\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Plant stems developing buds for crop year growth.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Wipe nonselective postemergence herbicides on weeds taller than blueberries.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>Fall<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image012.jpg\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1921\" title=\"clip_image012\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image012.jpg\" alt=\"Plant stems developing buds for crop year growth and leaf drop occurs after killing frost.\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Plant stems developing buds for crop year growth and leaf drop occurs after killing frost.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;color: #000000\"><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Wipe nonselective postemergence herbicides to weeds taller than blueberries not applied earlier.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h3><strong>Crop Year Management Schedule<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div>\n<table style=\"width: 100%\" border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"6\" align=\"center\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align: left;vertical-align: top\" scope=\"col\" valign=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Timing<\/strong><\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align: left;vertical-align: top\" scope=\"col\" valign=\"center\" width=\"20%\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Type of Action<\/strong><\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align: left;vertical-align: top\" scope=\"col\" valign=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Action<\/strong><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><strong>April<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image014.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1922\" title=\"clip_image014\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image014.jpg\" alt=\"Dormant - new plants dormant buds begin to swell.\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Dormant &#8211; new plants dormant buds begin to swell.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Insect Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Use a sweep net to sample for spanworm larvae \u2013 apply control measures if counts exceed the threshold.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><strong>May<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"4\" valign=\"top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image016.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1923\" title=\"clip_image016\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image016.jpg\" alt=\"Buds break, bloom and new leaf growth.\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Buds break, bloom and new leaf growth.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Plant Care<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Place beehives in the field at about 10% bloom.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Disease Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Monitor temperature, moisture, mummy berry spore production &#8211; apply fungicide to protect plants from mummy berry infection if severity rating is high.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Insect Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Use a sweep net to sample for spanworm and flea beetle larvae \u2013 apply control measures if counts exceed the threshold.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><strong>June<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"4\" valign=\"top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image018.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1924\" title=\"clip_image018\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image018.jpg\" alt=\"Flowers pollinated and fruit development begins.\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Flowers pollinated and fruit development begins.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Plant Care<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Remove beehives from fields after bloom is finished.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Disease Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Monitor temperature, moisture, mummy berry spore production &#8211; apply fungicide to protect plants from mummy berry infection if severity rating is high. Monitor for leaf spot diseases and apply control measures if needed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Insect Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Use a sweep net to sample for spanworm and flea beetle larvae \u2013 apply control measures if counts exceed threshold observe bee cautions. Place blueberry maggot fly traps in the field at the end of June.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><strong>July<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"4\" valign=\"top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image020.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1925\" title=\"clip_image020\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image020.jpg\" alt=\"Fruit size increases and begins to turn blue.\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Fruit size increases and begins to turn blue.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Plant Care<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Harvest begins in southern part of the state the last week.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Disease Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Monitor for leaf spot diseases and apply control measures if needed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Insect Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Monitor blueberry maggot fly traps and apply control measures if threshold levels are reached.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><strong>August<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image022.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1926\" title=\"clip_image022\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image022.jpg\" alt=\"Fruit continues to ripen and begins to fall off.\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Fruit continues to ripen and begins to fall off.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Plant Care<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Harvest when most fruit is ripe and before fruit drop (harvest from last week of July to end of August &#8211; can continue into September if temperatures are cool and the crop is large).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Insect Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Monitor blueberry maggot fly traps and apply control measures if threshold levels are reached <strong>(early August) stake out thrip infested areas of the field for next year control with insecticides or delayed burn.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#eeeeee\"><strong>Fall<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image024.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1916\" title=\"clip_image024\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image024.jpg\" alt=\"Leaf drop occurs after killing frost.\" width=\"240\" height=\"210\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Plant Development<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Leaf drop occurs after killing frost.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Plant Care<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Prune plants by mowing or burning after the first frost until snowfall.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><strong>Weed Control<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Wipe nonselective postemergence herbicides to weeds taller than blueberries until leaf drop. Apply bunchberry control up to the first frost.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>NOTE: <\/strong>This schedule gives an overview of the most common production practices. See the fact sheet section for details on these practices.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em><span id=\"m_2242575166680019940gmail-24\" class=\"m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_ m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_24 m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr-alert m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_spell m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_inline_cards m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_disable_anim_appear m_2242575166680019940gmail-ContextualSpelling m_2242575166680019940gmail-ins-del m_2242575166680019940gmail-multiReplace\">Information<\/span>\u00a0in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of\u00a0<span id=\"m_2242575166680019940gmail-26\" class=\"m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_ m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_26 m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr-alert m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_gramm m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_inline_cards m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_run_anim m_2242575166680019940gmail-Grammar m_2242575166680019940gmail-only-ins m_2242575166680019940gmail-replaceWithoutSep\">products<\/span>\u00a0or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is\u00a0<span id=\"m_2242575166680019940gmail-25\" class=\"m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_ m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_25 m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr-alert m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_gramm m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_inline_cards m_2242575166680019940gmail-gr_run_anim m_2242575166680019940gmail-Grammar m_2242575166680019940gmail-only-ins m_2242575166680019940gmail-doubleReplace m_2242575166680019940gmail-replaceWithoutSep\">criticism<\/span>\u00a0of unnamed products or companies implied.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 2010<\/p>\n<p><strong>Call 800.287.0274 (in Maine), or 207.581.3188, for information on publications and program offerings from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, or visit\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">extension.umaine.edu<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><i>The University of Maine is an EEO\/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran\u2019s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prepared by David E. Yarborough, Extension Blueberry Specialist, The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469. \u00a0February 2010. Prune Year Management Schedule Timing Type of Action Action April Plant Development Dormant &#8211; new plants not yet emerged. Plant Care Prune plants to within 1 inch of ground by mowing or burning (prior year late fall to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":18627,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1910","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Wild Blueberry Prune and Crop Management Schedule - Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wild Blueberry Prune and Crop Management Schedule - Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Prepared by David E. Yarborough, Extension Blueberry Specialist, The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469. \u00a0February 2010. Prune Year Management Schedule Timing Type of Action Action April Plant Development Dormant &#8211; new plants not yet emerged. Plant Care Prune plants to within 1 inch of ground by mowing or burning (prior year late fall to [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-10T13:38:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image002_0004.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"240\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"180\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/\",\"name\":\"Wild Blueberry Prune and Crop Management Schedule - Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image002_0004.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2010-06-16T15:17:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-10T13:38:52+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image002_0004.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image002_0004.jpg\",\"width\":240,\"height\":180,\"caption\":\"clip_image002_0004\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Resources\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Maine Wild Blueberry Production\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Wild Blueberry Prune and Crop Management Schedule\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/\",\"name\":\"Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries\",\"description\":\"Information you can use. Research you can trust.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Wild Blueberry Prune and Crop Management Schedule - Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries - University of Maine Cooperative Extension","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Wild Blueberry Prune and Crop Management Schedule - Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries - University of Maine Cooperative Extension","og_description":"Prepared by David E. Yarborough, Extension Blueberry Specialist, The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469. \u00a0February 2010. Prune Year Management Schedule Timing Type of Action Action April Plant Development Dormant &#8211; new plants not yet emerged. Plant Care Prune plants to within 1 inch of ground by mowing or burning (prior year late fall to [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/","og_site_name":"Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries","article_modified_time":"2025-09-10T13:38:52+00:00","og_image":[{"width":240,"height":180,"url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image002_0004.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/","url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/","name":"Wild Blueberry Prune and Crop Management Schedule - Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries - University of Maine Cooperative Extension","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image002_0004.jpg","datePublished":"2010-06-16T15:17:27+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-10T13:38:52+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image002_0004.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2010\/06\/clip_image002_0004.jpg","width":240,"height":180,"caption":"clip_image002_0004"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/prune-crop-management-schedule\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Resources","item":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Maine Wild Blueberry Production","item":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/production\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Wild Blueberry Prune and Crop Management Schedule"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/#website","url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/","name":"Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries","description":"Information you can use. Research you can trust.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/author\/"},"comment_info":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1910"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1910\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28303,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1910\/revisions\/28303"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}