I have a very old wild high bush blueberry. How far from the ground and when can I prune this back? It is too tall. I have over the years been pruning out the old canes and cross branches to open up the bush, but it is too tall at 7 1/2 feet to maintain easily. Would like to cut it back to about 4 1/2 feet tall at the newer canes height. Is this possible and will it survive? Thank you for your help. Jill

Has it started growing new foliage and flowers yet?

Down here, it would be way too late... dunno about NH.

I cut shrubs back at the end of winter just before they put out fresh leaves.

Edit: yeah, I enlarged the pics, I see flowers... I'd wait until next year.

I see plenty of new stalks coming up... you could probably cut the old trunks back to the ground... or down to where there's new growth coming off them.

Don't just chop and leave tall stumps... cut to a fork.

Thank you Stone for your email. I will wait until next year. Cut to a fork meaning: cut the old branch down to new growth only if there is 2 new shoots to form a V? Wasn't quite sure. Thank you.

Cut back to another branch or bud.

https://www.udel.edu/academics...

I'm not finding exactly your situation... but here's pruning to a fork.



I'm not sure what above picture was trying to show, but as you are attempting to reduce height, your cuts wouldn't be the side branches, but down to the side branches.

Does that explain better?

Thank you for your help Stone. I understand now. Much appreciated.