The best mulch for blueberries is organic and acidic—think pine needles, compost, shredded leaves, or aged wood chips. These help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil acidity, which blueberries love.
If your blueberry plants are just surviving but not thriving, mulch could be the missing ingredient. Blueberries need consistently moist, nutrient-rich, and acidic soil to grow well, and mulching is one of the easiest ways to achieve that. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, using the right mulch can dramatically boost your harvest.
Top Mulch Options for Blueberries
- Pine Needles: Excellent for maintaining soil acidity. They break down slowly and improve soil structure over time.
- Compost: Nutrient-dense and fast-decomposing, ideal for rapid growth. Avoid fresh kitchen scraps unless fully composted.
- Shredded Leaves: Readily available, fast to decompose, and packed with nutrients.
- Cardboard: Breaks down faster than wood chips, great for younger plants. Wet it down after applying.
- Aged Wood Chips: Great for long-term weed control and moisture retention, but best for mature plants due to slow decomposition.
- Grass Clippings: Rich in nutrients and fast-decomposing, but apply thin layers and avoid contact with stems.
- Hay: Nutrient-rich and effective, just make sure it’s seed-free and slightly decomposed if possible.
- Newspaper: Use only if free of toxic ink; layer with compost or leaves for best results.
Mulch Types to Avoid
- Plastic Mulch: Increases soil temperature and dries out the soil. Poor nutrient exchange.
- Rubber Mulch: Retains heat and lacks nutrients. Not recommended for edible gardens.
- Fresh Wood Mulch: May deplete nitrogen from the soil unless balanced with a fertilizer.
How to Apply Mulch to Blueberries
Mulch should be spread in a 4-foot-wide strip or around the base of individual plants. Aim for a depth of 4–6 inches, keeping the mulch 2–4 inches away from the plant stems to avoid rot. Replenish mulch annually as it decomposes to maintain optimal root conditions and soil health.
Benefits of Mulching Blueberries
- Improves soil moisture retention
- Prevents weed growth
- Maintains acidic pH levels
- Feeds the soil with organic matter
- Protects shallow roots during extreme weather
In More Details
Blueberries are one of the best plants for beginner gardeners. A blueberry bush was the first plant in my garden! The bush was surviving but not thriving… I noticed a huge change when I started mulching them! So… what’s the best mulch for blueberries?
Mulch enriches the soil with vital nutrients and keeps your dirt moist. Blueberry plants prefer damp soil because it promotes rapid root growth. If you don’t use mulch in your garden, you might notice that your blueberries dry out quicker!
Don’t know what kind of mulch to buy? I use these cost-effective cedar shavings!
What Are The Best Mulches For Blueberry Plants?
Grass Clippings
Grass clippings retain a lot of moisture and, more importantly, shield the soil from the sun. This makes them an excellent mulch for blueberries. Additionally, since grass clippings degrade so quickly, your plants can use the nutrients much faster than other types of mulch. If you decide to use glass clippings, I recommend spreading them over your blueberry plants without touching the plant stems—cover 2 to five inches.
Hay
Hay is an excellent mulch for blueberry plants as well. Its high concentration of vital nutrients accounts for how well it serves this purpose. In general, you can use either regular hay or some that has already started to decompose. Make sure the hay doesn’t touch the blueberry plants’ stems when you surround them. I recommend watering the hay to speed up the decomposition process and stop the wind from sweeping it away.
Wood Mulch
Wood chips are a commonly utilized mulch for blueberry plants. However, they have a slow decomposition process. If your blueberry plants are newly planted, I recommend using something that degrades quickly, such as compost, hay, or newspaper!
On the other side of things, wood chip mulch is fantastic at weed control. It will also last significantly longer than other mulches. Put a layer of mulch over your blueberry plants, keeping it 2 to 4 inches away from the stem of the plant. Remember that blueberry plants don’t like water on their leaves.
Plastic Mulch
Many people who grow blueberries often use plastic mulch, even though it is likely the worst mulch. The disadvantages of plastic mulch include soil drying, poor nutrient retention, and a lack of critical nutrient additions. Plastic mulch is excellent for preventing weeds from growing around your blueberry plants, yet your blueberry plants may also suffer.
Rubber Mulch
Plastic mulch’s high heat absorption will retain heat at the soil’s surface, speeding up water evaporation and causing the ground to dry. Any plastic mulch you use for blueberry plants should be placed on top of an organic layer of mulch, such as compost.
Rubber mulch is another popular man-made alternative to natural mulch. It is similar to plastic mulch regarding its poor nutrient retention. I don’t recommend using it for blueberry plants that are newly planted.
If you’re going to use rubber mulch, I recommend Playsafer rubber mulch. It’s high-quality and built to last.
Cardboard
Cardboard is a fantastic mulch for blueberry plants because it is made of wood pulp. The primary difference between wood chips and cardboard is that cardboard decomposes quickly. Therefore, cardboard is better for newer plants, and wood chips are best for older blueberries.
To place cardboard mulch, spread a layer of 2 to 5 inches of shredded or substantial cardboard, carefully wetting the mulch thoroughly.
Newspaper
A newspaper can be used as mulch for blueberries. The biggest problem with using newspapers as mulch is the ink, which may include dangerous compounds. I recommend checking to make sure what type of chemicals are used in the newspaper before using it as mulch.
Newspaper mulch degrades very quickly. I recommend using cardboard mulch as opposed to newspaper. If you do want to use newspaper mulch, though, add a 2 to 5-inch layer of newspaper around your blueberries. Applying organic mulch in addition to the newspaper mulch is also an excellent option because it will add more nutrients to your plants.
Pine Needles
Pine needles disintegrate more slowly than grass mulch and can be utilized as a mulch on blueberries. Using pine needle mulch can increase soil acidity, but it won’t harm your blueberry plants. Pine needles stop acidifying the soil once they become brown, and as they disintegrate, they add helpful nutrients to the soil.
As you mulch your blueberry plants with pine needles, ensure the blueberry plant stem is not in direct contact with the needles. Pine needle mulch can also be mixed with cardboard, grass, hay, wood chips, and other substances.
Leaves
Because they are nutrient-rich and have a high water absorption rate, leaves are excellent mulch for blueberry plants. Furthermore, leaves typically decompose quite quickly. They will feed the soil where your blueberry plants are growing. When you spread 2 to 5 inches of mulched leaves around your blueberry plants, make sure that none of them touch the plant’s stem. After that, water the area.
Compost
Given that it contains all the nutrients that blueberries need, compost is a fantastic option for mulching blueberry plants. Compost also tends to break down relatively quickly, speeding up the growth of your blueberry plants.
If you are composting your kitchen trash, you shouldn’t use it as mulch because it will start to attract pests (unless you let it decompose for a long time). Make sure the plant stem is not directly in contact with the compost.
How to Mulch Your Blueberry Plant:
Mulch should cover a 4-foot strip of soil 4 to 6 inches in the middle of a row of blueberry plants. Mulch needs to be replaced as it deteriorates. Degrading mulch enriches the soil with organic materials and fosters the growth of roots. If mulch is not replaced as it decomposes, vigorous root development may result in root exposure. As long as the mulch is replaced as needed, the advantages of mulching endure.
You can mulch a single plant if you don’t have multiple. Shovel the mulch around your plant (be careful not to put mulch directly in contact with the stem). Ideally, the mulch should be about 5 inches deep and about a foot wide.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, mulching blueberries is easy; just be cautious while picking the right kind. If you apply an organic mulch that nourishes the soil and aids in water retention, your blueberry plants will develop strongly and healthily.
FAQ
- What mulch helps maintain soil acidity for blueberries?
- Pine needles, compost, and aged wood chips all help preserve the acidic pH blueberries need to thrive.
- Can I use grass clippings as mulch?
Yes, but use thin layers and keep them away from stems to prevent rot and mold. Let the clippings dry slightly before applying. - Is hay a good option?
Yes, but use seed-free hay and water it down after applying to prevent wind displacement and encourage decomposition. - What mulch should I avoid for blueberries?
Skip plastic and rubber mulches—they retain heat, dry out the soil, and provide no nutrients. Also, avoid dyed or treated wood. - How often should I replace mulch?
Check mulch levels each season. Replace or top it up annually, especially if using fast-decomposing materials like compost or leaves.
