Green thumbs can stand to get a little blue this winter.

Veteran Master Gardener Jeanette Stehr-Green will kick off the 2018 Clallam County WSU Master Gardener Green Thumb Garden Tips education series with winter pruning techniques for increased blueberry productivity at noon Thursday, Jan. 25, at noon in the county commissioners’ meeting room of the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

According to Stehr-Green, research has shown that when blueberry plants are not pruned or are pruned too lightly, they fail to develop strong wood and become less productive.

“Blueberry growers need to establish an annual pruning regimen to remove old and diseased canes, encourage the appearance of strong new canes, and increase their harvest,” Stehr-Green says.

During the one-hour lecture, Stehr-Green will help home gardeners understand the typical growth pattern of blueberry canes, recognize blueberry canes of different ages, and know when to prune blueberry bushes. She will outline a systematic approach to pruning and list considerations for pruning different varieties of blueberries or blueberry bushes that have been neglected.

After the presentation, Stehr-Green, with the help of Master Gardener Audreen Williams, will demonstrate pruning techniques on dormant blueberry bushes at the Fifth Street Community Garden, located one block from the courthouse.

Stehr-Green has been a WSU-certified Clallam County Master Gardener since 2003. She writes articles for local newspapers and does public presentations on a variety of gardening topics. She has been growing blueberries for more than 15 years.