Larry Williams, an educator with the University of Florida Extension Office in Okaloosa County, demonstrated how to prune native “rabbit eye” blueberry plants and explained the timing and technique for rejuvenating older bushes. He said pruning is best done after harvest, typically after May, though he demonstrated the cuts in February for instructional purposes.

Williams recommended removing one-third of the largest, less-productive canes each year over a three-year cycle so the shrub is fully renewed while remaining productive. He advised cutting those old canes close to the ground with a clean cut and using a pruning saw for larger-diameter limbs rather than hand pruners or loppers. For shoots about a foot tall that grow the following season, he recommended topping to force branching and avoid long, leggy shoots.

On sucker growth, Williams noted that native blueberries send up new shoots from underground runners; gardeners can remove these if space is limited or leave them if room allows. He emphasized making cuts that keep the plant balanced rather than removing most growth from one side. Williams also offered practical tips about tool selection: a folding pruning saw for larger cuts, loppers for medium shoots, and careful mowing or trimming around lower branches to protect the plant during maintenance activities.

Williams described native blueberries as long-lived compared with some fruit plants, and said that as plants age — at roughly 10 years or more — removing older canes helps maintain production. He closed by inviting listeners to contact the local extension office in Okaloosa County for further gardening assistance and provided the office phone number.