The mulch on top isn't going to tie up N like it would if mixed into the soil. And this early you don't want to be pushing new growth. I'd wait until danger of frost is past.

Given the high N status of your plants last summer I doubt they will be N deficit this spring. Just as it takes 6-8 weeks to push rapid growth, it takes that long for plants to slow down when N applications end.

So in total it probably doesn't make much difference whether you fertilize now or in March.

Do you have any pictures of the plants after pruning? Might be informative.

I will take some pics tonight and try to post them tomarrow night. Dont have the laptop rightnow! I probably prunned a couple of them alittle to hard but they (Sunshine blue and Brightwell) were so vigorous last season I didnt want them to over due them selves. If they grow like they did last season I may leave alittle more on them next spring.

Blueboy,

Just make sure on the bags it does not say that the pine is PH balanced. What you have sounds like what they sell here and call "soil conditioner" it is good stuff. Basically just the very fine pine fines and because of that it is already partly composted.

I would not fertilize now. I start my fertilizing Mid February.

This stuff is not PH balanced for sure. It says nothing on the bag about being balanced and I also checked the ph last season on this stuff with a probe meter and it showed 3.5 to 4. Right on the money!

I potted up 3 small sweetcrisps and a rabbiteye cutting in this stuff with some perilite and a touch of sand about 3 months ago and seem to be very happy so far. I did add a touch of slow release fert. to the mix also. It does have some larger pieces in it aswell which should help keep it from packing down to much in a pot.

I will be getting the last of my Blues in the mail this week! Can wait man!!! I am kinda questioning 2 of my rabbiteye purchases though. Both state chilling needs of 450 to 550. I figure its close enough to our averages of 350 to 450 hoping for more of the latter but with all this global warming talk going on in here plus the weather we have been having Im starting to question my self. Should have gotten 2 more Sweetcrisps man!!!

Blueboy,

I have just started a new small rabbiteye bed. It will be 5 plants only and still trying to figure out what varieties to put there. Putting the sand in with the mix is a great idea. I always add some sand........of course sand here is about impossible to keep out anyway.

You shouldnt have any problem finding varieties in your area. Ive got several varieties of Rabbiteye and getting strong growth from all of them. Expecially Brightwell, Woodard, and Beckyblue. My Powderblue isnt quite a large as the others but its in a pot, not a raised bed like the others. It was also alittle sickly when purchased so Ive had to baby it along. Got some really nice cuttings from it though and plant on having more baby powderblues this spring. One of the newer Rabbiteyes named ALAPAHA and also Austin are suppost to out produce other varieties. Thats the two I have coming in this week and question there chill hours. Then again, powderblue is listed at 550 to 650 and it flowered here last season. Sometimes I think chill hours are not so set instone as one might think.

Blueboy,

Where do you buy your pine fines? I've used some (I think they were Scotsman's Choice) that I bought at Wal-mart, but HD has some that they sell as "soil conditioner" - I've often wondered if the HD stuff would be better. The bag I bought at Walmart seemed like it might be too coarse.

Julia,

They do sell pine fines at Walmart they come in a purple bag and just say pine mulch on them. Here only some of the Walmarts sell them. They also sell pine nuggets and mini nuggets and all come in a different color bag. Perhaps ask the garden center manager if they could order them in for you. Here they are $2.65 for a 3 cubic foot bag.

Julia,

I get my pine bark mulch at maas nursery in Seabrook. They also have medium and large pine bark nuggets. Im not going to use the pine bark mulch as mulch, only as a planting medium. The mulch is too fine and I bury my soaker hoses under it and the roots tend to grow into the mulch and around mhy soaker hose. This doesnt happen with the medium size bark as much because of the air pockets it creats.

As Bamboo stated soil conditioner is pine fines and a perfect ph to plant Blues in. I had some last spring and it tested 3.5 to 4ph. It is very fine and could used instead if peat moss. If using in a pot I would add some sand and perilite.

If you make it down to Maas they have a Blue Berry Mix in bags made by Natures Way Resources. Its kinda pricey at $17 a bag but thats what I used for my raised beds and had fantastic results. I mixed 40% peat moss, 40% Blue Berry Mix and 20% pine bark nuggets. I also add some sulfer and Micro Life Fertilizer 6-2-4. I would also pick up some Micro Life Fert if you go down there too. Thats all I use for all my plants and vege. Its got every thing your plants need.

While Maas is a pretty cool place and technically fairly close, I find it takes me forever to drive there for some reason. I do intend to get some Microlife this year, though, on your recommendation. I find myself in the city a lot, so I'll pick up some at Buchanan's.

Good to know the soil conditioner is what I should look for. I know where I can get it. I have a few new bushes to pot up in a month or so... Thanks!

Julia,

Hows your misty doing? Did you leave fruit buds on it for this spring?

My Misty is doing fine, but I've only had it about a month so I should hope so! It's a pretty tall plant and keeps getting knocked over by the wind - I need to pot it up. I keep moving it to places I think it might not blow over so I can wait another month to pot up.

Thanks for reminding me about the fruit buds. It has a lot of fruit buds - my plan is to leave a few of them on for tasting, but take most of them off. I probably should take care of that today...

I picked up a nice looking Woodard recently, too. I'm not going to make it to the Urban Harvest fruit tree sale, so I won't be getting my Sweetcrisp there. :( Maybe I'll have to order one - let me know if you see one at any of the nurseries around here.

I will keep and eye out for you. I wasnt planning on going to the Urban Harvest sale cause Im suppost to be working but planning on changing jobs soon so I need to burn up some vacation time. I really want to get some Tupi blackberries and of course I couldnt leave with out a Sweetcrisp or two!

Blueboy......about the microlife, is that a granular fertilizer or a water soluble type of fertilizer? How much and how often are you applying it?

thx.

RM

It is a granular fert. Its a slow release applied every 3 months. For my potted plants I apply about 2oz but may go 2.5oz this year cause there bigger. My raised beds got 4oz last year because of more surface area to cover but this year will be getting 5 to 6 ounces. Its all organic and the Dude at the nursery said its really hard to over fert with this stuff. Ive just been following the directions on the bag with good success. Did you find some?

No I think its only offered in Texas, have not been able to find it anywhere else.

Thanks
RM