Blueberries dying...any ideas?

Hi,

I had 2 big, healthy blueberries (see the remaining one in pic attached) and a little top hat fellow. All were planted in pots in ericaceous compost spring 2012. I have watered them with rainwater since and they get plenty of sun. I haven't fed them but have top-dressed the pots with pine needles.
One of my big ones seemed not to be doing as well as the other this spring, then it gradually became clear it was dying. Couldn't see any sign of pests, and feeding with organic tomato feed didn't help. Now my little tophat seems to be going the same way (see second pic). What have I done wrong?
Second big one is still looking good but all the flowers don't really seem to have come to much in the way of berries, unless the birds have got there before me.

Thanks

 

Andy I have a similar problem , just got back from holiday yesterday and my blueberry bush has discoloured leaves like your first photo. Like you I would appreciate a reason and cure if anyone knows . Seems like it has been very rainy and cool over the last 2 weeks in the NW .Unfortunately your second photo looks like a lost cause.

 

Is yours in a container too Harry?....there's another thread on here somewhere Re' Blueberry problems...sorry can't find it....but it turned out when repotted the roots were full of vine weevil ...that may well the problem with yours and Andys

 

I've got one that's going the same way. Its in a container. I might drown it for a day. The bush can survive that but I doubt any weevils could.

 

This is my Blueberry Bush ,in a container , it was OK 2 weeks ago , now like Andys lots of leaves are going brown at the tips . Any cures ?

 

Hi there.

I assume you've used Ericaceous compost?

Edit : Blueberries like Acidic conditions

 

Yes used Ericaceous compost Freddy, and fed with slow release Ericaceous fertilizer every 3 months . Andy have you used Ericaceous ?

 

Yes, used ericaceous compost and nothing else. Perhaps we should have been feeding them more?
I'll check for vine weevils this week. If this turns out to the problem, how do you prevent them in future?

 

I bought some from B&Q quite recently and It seems a few are going a similar way to this, going to try and drown them too, though il be replanting soon so can check then!

 

I have re-potted mine in new ericaceous compost . I washed as much of the old compost off as I dared too , and could see no sign of white vine weevil grubs . That does not mean they are not there. Can you really drown them by soaking the root-ball over night ? I thought they would survive that .
I pruned back most of the dying leaves and removed all the fruit. Now all I can do is wait. Article below explains very well pruning/cutting back blueberries.

http://www.growveg.com/growblogpost.aspx?id=227

 

So has anyone got advice on stopping vine weevil?
And if that is the problem, will they spread to the rest of my garden if left to their devices?
Thanks.

 

Well one week after repotting into new ericaceous compost and pruning the fruit off, the Blueberry bush has continued its decline. It has been moved to my plant "hospice" behind the shed , you never know it may get a burst of life if the roots have time to regrow.