Lichens on a blueberry bush

[journey11]

Hi guys. My dad was asking me this evening how to remove lichens that are growing upon his blueberry bush and I had no idea what to tell him. He believes the lichens may be choking out the bush, but from what I've read online they are not supposed to cause any damage a plant, but rather proliferate as the plant may be dying off from some other condition or disease.

So...any ideas what this blueberry bush might need done to help it? It is an old, established plant, too big to move. It has not really had much care, but has produced berries faithfully over the years. It seems to be slowly dying off. I was hoping you guys might have some insight on this. Thanks!!

 

[thistlebloom]

I have also understood that lichens don't harm plants Journey. It sounds like your dads bush could use rejuvenating. Canes that are more than an inch in diameter are less productive than younger thinner canes.
If it hasn't been pruned for a long time, this is an excellent time to do it. Go through the bush and do the regular maintenance type pruning, cutting out dead , diseased or broken canes. Then take out about three of the oldest canes.
Give it a good fertilizing and it should turn around for you.
Thinning it out will stimulate new canes. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[journey11]

That sounds like a good plan. Thanks, thistlebloom! My dad is funny about things sometimes. I have a hard time getting him to take my word for it on stuff like this. I will probably have to sneak out there and do the pruning when he's not looking. Should I fertilize with the same stuff you use for azeleas? Probably ought to do some mulching too. I hear blueberries hate grass/weeds.

 

[hoodat]

Lichens are real oddballs. They are not a single organism but are actually a colony of a particular fungus living in a symbiotic relaionship with algaes and sometimes bacteria also get into the act. They are harmless on plants, never penetrating beyond the outer layers of the bark although, oddly enough, some of them seem to be able to etch themselves into limestone rocks. In Japanese formal gardens they are highly prized since they give the appearance of great age to plants and rocks.

 

[lesa]

It is my understanding that the bushes do kind of peter out, with time... Mine are still tiny and not producing- so I can't help much!

 

[thistlebloom]

I will probably have to sneak out there and do the pruning when he's not looking. Should I fertilize with the same stuff you use for azeleas?

The same fertilizer you use for rhodies and azaleas would be perfect.
Your comment about pruning when your dads not looking made me laugh. I can so relate!

 

[journey11]

In Japanese formal gardens they are highly prized since they give the appearance of great age to plants and rocks.

Oh yes, they are so beautiful and I love their texture. I found some wonderful old foundation stones covered with them out in the woods. I wish I could take them home with me, but they weigh about 200 lbs! From what I read, they are a sign of good air quality too.

It is my understanding that the bushes do kind of peter out, with time... Mine are still tiny and not producing- so I can't help much!

I wondered about that too, if they had an age limit. These would be quite old anyway.

Your comment about pruning when your dads not looking made me laugh. I can so relate!

I know, my dad can be quite a turkey sometimes. He is very set in his ways.