ABSTRACT
Pruning of large rabbiteye bushes has become a major concern to growers in the Southeastern United States. Without pruning, rabbiteye bushes often grow to heights of 4 m or more (13 ft) in 10 years making hand harvest very difficult. Moderate post-harvest roof-top hedging of blueberries has become a common practice in the production of northern and southern highbush blueberries in North Carolina since they ripen early and pruning can be conducted in June. However, even June pruning causes a slight depression of yields on most cultivars the next year, so this practice is normally done biennially (Mainland, 1989). With rabbiteye blueberries, research from North Carolina indicates that ‘Tifblue’ blueberry must be hedged by 15 July to maintain yields (Mainland, 1989). This usually means sacrificing part of the current season’s crop. Because South Georgia has about one month longer growing season than Eastern North Carolina, research is needed to determine if post-harvest rooftop hedging can be used with out yield loss. Early August is a practical time for growers to perform this practice, since all cultivars have finished bearing by this time.
