Blueberries are easy to grow in the right conditions, but they can be picky about certain things. One of the most crucial elements of blueberry bush care is watering. All fruit plants need water, but blueberries are especially sensitive to dry soil and inconsistent moisture. Continue reading to learn the ins and outs of watering blueberry bushes, including when to do it, how much water is needed, how watering requirements change throughout the season, and other helpful watering tips.

We may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this post, at no additional cost to you.
As home gardeners, we aren't shackled by the same constraints as commercial orchard farmers, who must optimize every single part of the plant-care process to get the most sellable crop. But we can certainly learn from them about what will help each plant grow and fruit their best. This is what happened to me as I learned about watering blueberry plants.
I sat in a blueberry-growing information session put on by my county extension office, and was surprised to learn just how much water blueberry bushes need during the growing season. This began my deep dive into learning the best ways to water blueberries, including how to optimize my watering practices to make it as simple and effective as possible.
Blueberry Watering Needs
Blueberry plants have fibrous roots that stay relatively close to the soil surface. The finest roots take up water and nutrients from the soil. Blueberries tend to have fewer of these hairlike "feeder" roots than many other plants, which means they are especially sensitive to drying out. The soil needs to remain moist so the beneficial mycorrhizal fungi that live on the root hairs can help the plant absorb nutrients (source).
Unfortunately, the web of roots also can't tolerate wet, heavy soils because they're limited in the amount of water they can absorb. The roots typically stay within a foot of the crown of the plant, with most of them being in the top foot of soil - depending on what kind of soil they're grown in (source). If the soil holds onto too much moisture, the tiny root hairs will suffocate.

So the goal for watering blueberries is to keep the soil moist but not too wet. This is one of the reasons that blueberries need to be grown in soil with a lot of organic matter, which helps retain moisture.
Learn more about how to prepare blueberry soil here: Blueberry Planting Basics: Preparing the Soil for a New Patch
How to Water Blueberry Bushes - The Essentials
Start here for basic info about watering blueberries, including when, how much, and other key watering tips.
Watering Throughout the Year
Blueberries need a lot more water during fruiting (late spring through summer) than they do the rest of the year. They also need more water when the weather is hot, to keep the soil from drying out. The tiny roots can only take up so much water. If the soil dries out and the plant can't absorb enough water to offset the evaporation through the leaves and stems (that's how it cools itself), it will get stressed and wilt.
Water the most frequently during fruit formation in late spring, in summer as the fruit develops, and through the early fall. In other words, when the most growth is happening, the most water is needed.
If you get enough rainfall you may not need to add much additional irrigation. But many places have a drier season. In my case it's the summer, when it also gets extremely hot. Increased heat means increased water loss, so I need to irrigate more in the summer to make up for it.

Once the weather cools down and the blueberry plant goes dormant, much less water is needed. Before a freeze, feel the soil. If it feels dry, water deeply. Water acts as insulation around the sensitive plant roots, even when it freezes, so damp soil will help protect against cold damage.
In warmer climates, blueberry bushes may keep their leaves throughout the winter. In that case, continue watering regularly (although less than summer). Evergreen plants need more water over the winter than deciduous plants.
Amount Per Plant
The amount of water a blueberry plant needs changes according to the age and size of the plant, soil type, time of year, and weather. The actual amounts suggested vary widely among sources, as you'll see below. I've included links to a hot climate source (the Texas Ag Extension) and a milder climate source (the Oregon State Extension), as well as recommendations based on my own experience. Plan to adjust the actual amount of watering according to your growing situation.
In hot climates, mature blueberry plants (particularly Rabbiteye blueberries, which are grown in warmer climates) may need at least 5 gallons of water a day during fruiting. In the hottest part of the year, a fully grown bush may need as much as 8 gallons of water per day (source)!

A newly planted bush will need about 1/2 gallon of water per day (spread throughout the week) during its first year. That's about 1 to 1.5 inches per week. (Use this rainfall calculator to convert rainfall to gallons).
The next year, as the bush gets bigger, double that to about 1 gallon per day, on average. Increase the watering amount by about a 1/2 gallon per day each year until you reach 5 gallons, or until the plant is fully grown. Again, these amounts are primarily during the hottest weather while the fruit is developing. Consider how much rainfall you've gotten and adjust accordingly.
In milder climates you may not need to water quite as much, since the plant won't be losing as much moisture to evaporation. An established, mature blueberry plant may only need 1.5 to 3 inches of water per week during fruiting (roughly 2 - 3 gallons), depending on plant size, rainfall, and temperatures.
For Hot Climates: "Rabbiteye Blueberries" - TAMU Extension
For Mild Climates: "Growing Blueberries in Your Home Garden" - Oregon State Extension
Water Quality
It's very important to check the quality of your irrigation water. Blueberry plants are very sensitive to sodium, boron, chloride, and other salts . If the pH of the water is too high, it also might affect how the plant absorbs nutrients.

Do a water test to make sure that the sodium levels, in particular, are very low (less than 46ppm according to the University of Georgia Extension). The pH should also be low - under 6.0.
The best option may be to collect rainwater for your blueberry plants (although I would still do the occasional water test). Rainwater tends to be a little more acidic than "regular" water. The acidity of the water is less of an issue, however, than the acidity of the soil. Watering with low-pH water will only have a temporary effect on the plant, if any, if the soil environment is too basic.
Irrigation
The simplest way to water blueberry plants is with drip irrigation. Even if you water by hand, it's important to avoid splashing water onto the leaves (which can encourage fungus to grow). Drip irrigation or soaker hoses minimize water loss through evaporation, and they allow water to soak directly into the ground.

For my blueberry plants, I used 1/2 gallon-per-hour emitter tubing and placed 2 emitters around each plant the first year. This way I only had to run the irrigation for 1/2 hour to get to 1/2 gallon per day. The next year, I added an extra emitter or two to each plant. As they grow bigger I will increase to 1 gallon-per-hour emitters. This is a great way to be sure that your plants are getting enough water as they grow.
Place the drip lines (or soaker hoses) under any mulch so the water soaks directly into the root zone. The roots of a blueberry bush only extend out about a foot, so keep the drip lines close to the plant.
Feel the soil under the mulch to be sure it's staying moist, but not soggy. The soil shouldn't dry out too much between waterings. Adjust water amounts or frequency to maintain consistent soil moisture.
Mulch
One of the best things you can do for your blueberry plants is also one of the easiest - mulch! Keep a few inches of mulch around the plants at all times (avoid the crown of the plant). Mulch insulates the roots and prevents too much moisture evaporation from the soil, even in hot weather. As a bonus, you can mulch with pine bark, peat moss, pine needles, or other acidic natural material, which will break down over time to acidify and enhance the soil. Win-win.

Signs of Drought Stress or Overwatering
How do you know if you're watering too much - or too little? Watch the plant for signs of distress, and make adjustments to your watering regime.
Drought Stress
Young blueberry plants will become more easily stressed by a lack of water. Their root systems are smaller and can't seek out moisture from the soil as well. You may notice brown, brittle "burning" around the edges of young leaves, which can indicate drought stress.
If the lack of water continues, the leaves will die and fall to the ground. Berries and shoots may also look shriveled as the plant uses up what water it has. After a long period of drought, a blueberry bush might look (or become) completely dead. Check out this fact sheet by Michigan State for more details.

Blueberry plants have some protection from drought stress, though. Mature blueberry leaves have a waxy coating (the cuticle) that helps prevent excessive evaporation. Newer leaves aren't as resilient and lose moisture a lot more quickly when stressed by heat or drought.
Overwatering
Too much water can be harder to detect in blueberry bushes. An overwatered blueberry plant may have leaves that look uniformly pale or yellowed. They can also develop browning around the edges, which may look similar to drought stress.
The easiest way to assess whether a blueberry plant is getting too much water is to check the soil. Blueberries hate "wet feet", and the roots can quickly develop root rot or other fungal diseases if they stay in soggy soil.
How to Water Potted Blueberry Plants
The same principles of watering apply to blueberry bushes grown in containers. However, there are a few key differences to be aware of:
- Drainage is essential. Use a very well-draining potting mix with various-sized particles that allow water and air to flow freely.Check out Easy Potting Mix Recipe for Blueberries (+ Favorite Brands) for potting soil options.
- Don't plant in too large a pot. It's very easy to overwater a potted plant that is swimming in too much soil. Keep the pot proportionate to the size of the plant. It should be just a few inches bigger than the size of the root ball. Size up to a bigger pot as the plant grows.
- Avoid putting stones at the bottom of the pot. Contrary to common believe, putting drainage stones, etc. at the bottom of the pot actually makes drainage worse, because it causes water to stay in the soil above the rocks (which can quickly lead to root rot).
- Aim to keep the soil moist, but not too wet. Just like with in-ground plants, blueberries need even moisture to grow and fruit their best.
- Check your water quality. A potted blueberry bush will be even more sensitive to water quality and pH than an in-ground plant. Double check the sodium content and pH of your irrigation water. Use collected rainwater, if possible, which tends to be a little more acidic.
- Add mulch. Mulch your potted blueberry plants just as you would those in the ground. Mulch will help with moisture retention and keep the roots from drying out as quickly between waterings.
- Double check the pots in a heat wave. Potted blueberries may dry out more quickly in the heat. Double check the soil by sticking your finger in a couple of inches. If it's dry, water thoroughly. In hot climates, you may need to water once (or twice) daily in the summer.