Hi Thornberry, I had a similar experience with my blueberries recently. Not exactly the same problems as yours but I too put them in the soil without amending or acidifying it and applied on it an acidic fertilizer. Surprisingly, all adapted well to this, except one, Misty, which really seemed to be doomed. As a last resort method, I dug holes around the current dripline of this plant and put in sulphur, then spread sulphur around the topsoil and drenched it in water. As the weather has been warming up, I notice new leaves being thrown by this sick plant. In the meantime, I've amended soil around all others with sulphur too and they have nice green leaves. Not as dark green as I've seen in the pictures, but these are in a spot where they get direct sun for 6-7 hours each day, and dappled shade in the afternoon. Net-net: I would not write off your blueberries yet. BTW, I recently visited my trusted nursery and asked the person (whom I consider knowledgeable) the same question: whether it's necessary to plant blueberries in acidic soil in the ground or just apply acidic fertilizer. This person had previously guided me to grow 2 varieties of blueberries in the container and I have had excellent growth for past 5 years or so. He confirmed that, even in the ground, it's not necessary to amend the soil, but it's sufficient to use acidic fertilizer. Just sharing my experience!!

Hi, I know this thread is 6 years old but I wondered if the OP tried mulch etc. And wanted to ask how it worked for them? We have a property with small strip of woodland at the base of Mt Beacon about an hour north of New York City. We've lived here three years. When a tree in the shallow soil on the hill fell over in a storm and smashed our shed, the guys removing the tree did us a "favor" and removed a bunch of the scrubby undergrowth back there. By doing this they appear to have spread poison ivy throughout the area. I'm attacking it here and there by snipping, raking, and a little herbicide, however the whole area is so overgrown it's just hard to tackle it. We have a preschooler and it's actually the only shaded area on our property, so I really would love to make better use of it. The local "natural" landscaping company I hope would help us, keeps not showing up. They came once for an initial consultation, then never followed up, then didn't answer my calls. I actually saw them again recently working on someone else's property. They came over after my neighbor's job, suggested using heavy mulch to get the area under control, then never followed up again! I'm starting to think about going to the city dump and getting load after load of wood chips on my own, and seeing what happens if I weed whack and just try to create a path with the chips. Anyhow my search for ideas brought me to this forum. Open to feedback! On a budget but very much interested in planting native species over time.

My parents' neighbor, a man I've known my entire life, lost his wife after her illness of a couple of years. Within a few months he was married to a woman we found out he'd evidently been seeing either before his wife's illness or met during the illness. To say the least I was SHOCKED! He is about the same age as your father. I haven't talked to his children about it, but he signed his home to the kids and walked away to be with the other woman. If it were my father, I would be concerned because he is not able to make good decisions due to a stroke and several illnesses. But you describe your father as a competent person. I'm sure he misses your mother and wants companionship. This person might be looking for financial support, and knowing your parents for a few years obviously knows your father can provide it. If you are worried that she is going to take everything from your father, maybe you should just talk to your father to ask the questions you are wanting answers to. My father is 83 and we have a good relationship, I can say pretty much what's on my mind and he can do the same. If one of us gets mad or gets our feelings hurt, we are adult enough to let that be known too so we can find compromise even if we disagree. I guess what I am saying is if I were in your position I would go to my father and tell him my concerns and hear his side. If he has valid enough points for you, then let it be his life. I am at my parents' house several times a week and don't always call before I go, maybe you could drop by when you are in the neighborhood and catch the both of them at home and you can have your get together, even if it's impromtu. Good luck with whatever you choose.

They look great. Whatever you are doing, keep doing it. Maybe they are different species? There is at least one other very similar species but it stays a perfect globe--with time obesa gets taller than wide. Can't remember the species name, have seen it at shows.