Yes, you can plant blueberry bushes next to house walls with the right setup. The spot must get at least 6 hours of sun each day for good fruit. The soil pH near the wall must stay between 4.0 and 5.5 for the plants to feed well. Keep the bushes 4 to 5 feet from the foundation to give roots room to spread. Skip the spot if the wall faces north or hides under deep eaves all day.
I tried blueberry foundation planting along the south wall of my garage last spring. The brick wall held warmth from the afternoon sun deep into the cool evenings. I found those bushes ripened a full 2 weeks earlier than the ones in the open garden bed. The wall blocked harsh north winds that can damage flower buds in late frost. The trick worked so well that I added two more bushes to the same spot this year.
The biggest worry with house-side planting is the concrete or block foundation itself. Concrete leaks lime into the soil for many years after the house was built. This lime slowly pushes the soil pH up above the 5.5 ceiling that blueberries can stand. The closer your bush sits to the wall, the worse this pH drift gets over time. Yellow leaves and stunted growth show up within one or two seasons of planting too close.
NCSU spacing data suggests you keep blueberry distance from house at 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) minimum. This gap lets roots spread without hitting lime-soaked dirt right next to the foundation. The space also helps air flow around the leaves and cuts down on fungal problems. Tight planting near walls traps damp air that breeds mildew on the leaves. Give your bushes room to breathe and they will pay you back with healthy fruit.
Test the soil pH right at your planned planting spot before you dig. Take a sample from 6 inches deep and 3 feet out from the wall for an honest read. If the pH reads above 5.5, build a raised bed with fresh acidic soil instead. A raised bed of 18 inches lifts the root zone above the lime-tainted ground. This trick lets you grow blueberries near foundation lines with no pH worries at all.
Watch out for gutter overflow spots that dump heavy rain on the bushes each storm. Soggy roots rot fast and kill a healthy bush within one wet season. Move the spot at least 3 feet away from any gutter downspout exit point. Landscaping with blueberries along a house wall gives you fruit and pretty fall color all in one. The leaves turn deep red in October and look great against a brick or stone wall.
Read the full article: Blueberry Bushes: Complete Growing Guide
