The Best Soil for Blueberries to Get the Right pH Level

The Best Soil for Blueberries Options — Photo: The Home Depot

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Though blueberry plants (Vaccinium spp.) can be grown in most parts of the United States, the right soil for blueberries is essential. Depending on the variety, they can thrive in USDA zones 3 through 10—if they have suitable care.

With so many types of soil available, it can be difficult to narrow down the options. To help make the search easier, we selected the following soil mixes based on their quality formulas, versatility, and value. Our favorite is the organic mix from Coast of Maine, which is specifically formulated for acid-loving plants and does not require an acidifier.

Keep reading to explore our picks for the best soil for blueberries and learn about several key features to consider when shopping.

BEST OVERALL: Coast of Maine Organic Acid-Loving Planting Soil
RUNNER-UP: Espoma Organic African Violet Premium Potting Mix
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Miracle-Gro Performance Organics All Purpose Mix
BEST ACIDIC SOIL: Dr. Earth Organic and Natural Acid Lovers Planting Mix
BEST ACIDIFIER: Jobe’s Organics Soil Acidifier
BEST FOR RAISED BEDS: FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil

Soil for Blueberries Comparison Chart

Product	Bag Size	Key Ingredients	Target pH Level
Coast of Maine Organic Acid-Loving Planting Soil	20 quarts	Composted manure, aged bark, sphagnum peat moss	5.0
Espoma Organic African Violet Premium Potting Mix	4 quarts	Sphagnum peat moss, humus, perlite, limestone, yucca extract	N/A
Miracle-Gro Performance Organics All Purpose Mix	6 quarts	Aged compost, yucca, sphagnum peat moss, coconut coir, perlite	5.5 to 6.5
Dr. Earth Organic and Natural Acid Lovers Planting Mix	8 quarts or 1.5 cubic feet	Redwood sawdust, composted green waste, alfalfa meal, fish bone meal, kelp, peat moss, fir bark, dolomite lime	5.5
Jobe’s Organics Soil Acidifier	6 pounds	Sulphur	N/A
FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil	12 quarts	Earthworm castings, bat guano, seagoing fish, crab meal	6.3 to 6.8

Our Top Picks

Knowing more about blueberry bush care and the plant’s soil requirements can help narrow the vast soil choices available in garden centers and online. After extensive research, we’ve gathered the following as some of the best options when planting blueberries in a garden.

Best Overall

Coast of Maine Organic Acid-Loving Planting Soil

What We Like

Suitable for both inground or container planting
It’s specially formulated for acid-loving plants
Excellent value for 20 quarts
Does not require an acidifier to reach ideal pH for blueberries

What We Don’t Like

The bag is not resealable
Large quantity of soil; not ideal for small container gardens

Product Specs

Bag size: 20 quarts
Key ingredients: Composted manure, aged bark, sphagnum peat moss
Target pH level: 5.0

This large 20-quart bag of planting soil from Coast of Maine is an excellent and affordable option for blueberry growers. It’s crafted for plants that require acidic soil to thrive, including rhododendrons, azaleas, ferns, hollies, hydrangeas, strawberries, and blueberries. This is a versatile formula that’s just as suitable for container gardening as it is for inground planting.

The mixture includes natural ingredients like compost, tree bark, and peat moss, which serve to both lower the soil’s pH level and contribute macronutrients and micronutrients.

Get the Coast of Maine soil for blueberries at Amazon.

Runner-Up

Espoma Organic African Violet Premium Potting Mix

What We Like

Ideal for moisture retention and aeration
Specifically formulated for container gardening
It includes pH adjusters

What We Don’t Like

A soil acidifier will likely be needed

Product Specs

Bag size: 4 quarts
Key ingredients: Sphagnum peat moss, humus, perlite, limestone, yucca extract
Target pH level: N/A

While African violets and blueberry plants may seem to have little in common, they actually share very similar soil requirements. Even though few soil mixes on the market are formulated specifically for blueberries, there are plenty made for African violets that thrive in a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0. This potting mixture from Espoma is best for use in containers and raised beds and includes perlite, which helps create a perfect balance of aeration and moisture retention.

The formula contains between 35 and 45 percent sphagnum peat moss and includes limestone, which contributes to elevating soil acidity and is ideal for both blueberry plants and African violets.

Get the Espoma soil for blueberries at Amazon.

Best Bang for the Buck

Miracle-Gro Performance Organics All Purpose Mix

What We Like

Available in smaller quantities for those planting in small containers
Designed to drain efficiently to prevent root rot and other disorders
Includes added nutrients to feed plants for up to 3 months

What We Don’t Like

An additional soil acidifier will be needed

Product Specs

Bag size: 6 quarts
Key ingredients: Aged compost, yucca, sphagnum peat moss, coconut coir, perlite
Target pH level: 5.5 to 6.5

Not all gardeners are seeking to purchase soil that’s exclusively for blueberry plants, and many prefer a more versatile option that can work for a variety of outdoor plant varieties. This inground soil mixture from Miracle-Gro is designed for flowers, herbs, and vegetables, and is also suitable for blueberries. While it’s sold as an inground soil, it can also be used in raised beds or container planters, furthering its versatility.

The major downside is that, unlike all of the other recommendations on our list, this mixture is not specifically formulated for acid-loving plants, so a pH modifier will be necessary in order for blueberries to thrive.

Get the Miracle-Gro soil for blueberries at Amazon.

Best Acidic Soil

Dr. Earth Organic and Natural Acid Lovers Planting Mi

What We Like

Specifically formulated for acid-loving plants
Certified organic and GMO-free
Fertilizing Materials Law and Regulations
Resealable bag

What We Don’t Like

It carries a Proposition 65 warning

Product Specs

Bag size: 8 quarts or 1.5 cubic feet
Key ingredients: Redwood sawdust, composted green waste, alfalfa meal, fish bone meal, kelp, peat moss, fir bark, dolomite lime
Target pH level: 5.5

Dr. Earth’s Organic and Natural Acid Lovers planting mix is crafted to create perfect soil conditions for plants that require acidic soil. According to the manufacturer, it’s ideal for blueberries, evergreens, hydrangeas, hollies, gardenias, ferns, tropical plants, and shade plants. This soil mixture is formulated to maintain a pH of 5.5, which is at the top of the ideal pH range for blueberries.

The formula is completely natural, organic, and genetically modified organism (GMO)-free, and Dr. Earth is committed to sustainable resource management practices.

Get the Dr. Earth soil for blueberries at Amazon or Dr. Earth.

Best Acidifier

Jobe’s Organics Soil Acidifier

What We Like

Excellent at lowering the soil’s pH level
Excellent value
The easy-pour bag is resealable

What We Don’t Like

This product isn’t widely available and may be tricky to find in store
Is not designed for use without another soil product

Product Specs

Bag size: 6 pounds
Key ingredients: Sulphur
Target pH level: N/A

This soil acidifier from Jobe’s Organics stands out from the other products on our list because it’s not a potting soil. It’s a specialty product that’s formulated to lower a soil’s pH level, boosting soil acidity and making it ideal for acid-loving plants like blueberries and hydrangeas. Sulfur is the key ingredient when it comes to altering the soil’s pH, and this mixture has a guaranteed 30 percent sulfur formula.

It comes in an easy-pour bag and should be applied when initially planting seedlings and reapplied two to three times per year. Since only a couple of tablespoons are needed each time, the 6-pound bag can last a long time.

Get the Jobe’s Organics soil for blueberries at Amazon.

Best for Raised Beds

FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil

What We Like

Includes ingredients for optimal aeration, providing well-draining soil
Includes a wide variety of nutrient-rich ingredients
Comes in a range of sizes

What We Don’t Like

This product is pH adjusted at 6.3 to 6.8, so a soil acidifier will be necessary

Product Specs

Bag size: 12 quarts
Key ingredients: Earthworm castings, bat guano, seagoing fish, crab meal
Target pH level: 6.3 to 6.8

This organic potting soil includes ingredients for pH adjustment, nutrition, and drainage. It’s designed for optimal aeration, which makes it ideal for blueberries that need well-draining soil since they need to be watered frequently.

The formula is natural and organic, containing nutritious ingredients like bat guano, earthworm castings, and crab meal. Its pH is adjusted to between 6.3 to 6.8, which is an ideal range for nutrient absorption but isn’t quite acidic enough for blueberries, meaning additional pH modifiers will likely be necessary. It comes in a 12-quart, 1.5-cubic-foot, 3-cubic-foot, 27-cubic-foot, or 55-cubic-foot bag and is ideal for both indoor and outdoor container plants.

Get the FoxFarm soil for blueberries at Amazon (12 quarts) or The Home Depot (40 pounds).

Or, DIY Your Own Soil for Blueberries

While there are plenty of commercially produced brands of soil on the market, it’s also possible to create a homemade potting mix that’s ideal for blueberry bushes.

First, start with ingredients that will help ensure the right pH balance for blueberries. A base of peat moss or coir is ideal for creating acidic soil. Compost or aged manure will also help add extra nutrients and minerals that blueberry plants need to thrive.

Next, mix in some perlite to improve aeration and drainage. Perlite is especially important if users live in an area with heavy clay soil because it will make the compost more light and fluffy so that roots can develop freely and easily absorb water.

Last, use a soil meter to test the pH of the soil to ensure that it’s within the optimal range for blueberries.

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Chose the Best Soil for Blueberries

We explored more than 20 soil options and weighed a number of practical considerations before making our recommendations. We prioritized organic formulations and natural ingredients. Some popular potting soil options, like Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, include some ingredients that can negatively impact the environment. Because these types of products do not meet our sustainability guidelines, we don’t recommend them.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, all of the products on the list had to meet blueberry gardeners’ needs for drainage, acidity, and value.

Drainage: Blueberries require a well-draining loamy soil that also remains slightly moist, so we prioritized products with these attributes.
Acidity: The most important factor for a blueberry soil is its acidity level, so we gave priority to soil blends that promise high acidity. That being said, there are limited options on the market for high-acidity organic soil that’s ready for blueberries without adjustment, so we also included high-quality all-purpose formulas that will likely require an additional soil acidifier.
Value: Since plant soil varies widely in quantity, we calculated the overall value based on the amount per cost for each of our recommendations.

What to Consider When Choosing Soil for Blueberries

While it’s easy to assume that all plant soils offer similar performance, a number of factors affect their functionality and appropriateness for different plants. Keep reading to learn about several of the most important features to consider when choosing the best soil for blueberry bushes.

Drainage and Moisture

Blueberry bushes have shallow root systems, so they need to be watered frequently to prevent the soil from becoming dry. Because of this, they need well-draining loamy soil that also retains moisture well.

Consider adding a layer of mulch to the soil to aid in moisture retention. If inadequate drainage or moisture is causing blueberry plants to fail, consider moving them to a raised bed or container where the soil is more easily controlled. Check on the plants regularly, and water them if the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.

pH Level

One of the most important factors when choosing soil for blueberries is the pH level. Blueberries do best in acidic soil with a pH of between 4.5 and 5.5. Before planting blueberry bushes, check the soil’s pH level to determine if it needs to be raised or lowered. Gardeners can add sulfur to the soil in order to increase acidity. Blueberries have shallow roots, so only the top 6 to 12 inches need to be prepared.

Since the soil in the United States isn’t naturally acidic, soil that includes a pH modifier may be necessary. Choose a soil blend that includes peat moss or sphagnum moss because they both work to increase a soil’s acidity level. Coconut coir is an ingredient that acts as an eco-friendly alternative since moss-harvesting practices are not considered to be sustainable. While choosing the right soil blend for acid-loving plants is key, it will still usually be necessary to add a soil modifier in order to reach the ideal pH level for blueberries.

Organic Matter

Blueberries typically do best if their soil contains organic matter that provides both macronutrients and micronutrients. Some great options include oak leaves and fir or pine bark, all of which acidify the soil while providing essential nutrients.

While some soil blends include organic matter that helps with fertilization, gardeners can also supplement with a dedicated fertilizer. Blueberry plants should be fertilized during their blooming season, and fertilizing stops in late summer in order to discourage further blooms before winter comes. For optimal results, choose a fertilizer with a balanced nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) ratio of 10-10-10 or similar.

FAQs

While you now know more about choosing the best plant soil for blueberry plants, you might still want more information about how to grow blueberries, how to care for a blueberry bush, and how to use the soil. Here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about blueberry plant soil.

Q. How do I prepare the soil for blueberries?

Before planting blueberries, test your soil’s pH level using a home test kit. Ensure the soil has an acidity level of between 4.5 and 4.8 by adding sulfur as needed. It’s best to continue to test the soil throughout the year to ensure it remains within the ideal range.

Q. What is the best soil acidifier to use for blueberries?

Most soil in the United States is not ideal for blueberries, so a high-quality soil acidifier containing sulfur like Jobe’s Organics Soil Acidifier can help. It’s also important to test the soil’s pH after using a soil acidifier to make sure it’s at the optimal acidic level for blueberries.

Q. What is the best mulch for blueberries?

Pine needles, wood chips, or bark mulch are the best mulch options for blueberry plants due to their low pH.

Q. Where should I plant blueberry bushes?

Plant blueberry bushes in an area that receives full sun, unless you live in a particularly warm climate where they appreciate a little afternoon shade.

Q. What type of blueberry plant is best for my area?

Choose a type of blueberry plant based on your USDA hardiness zone. Lowbush varieties are hardy to Zones 3 to 6, half-height varieties can thrive in Zones 3 to 5, highbush blueberries do well in Zones 4 to 7, and rabbiteye blueberries are best grown in Zones 7 to 10.