A field study was conducted to investigate the effects of three fertilizer placement methods and 11 fertilizer formulations on plant survival, economics of replanting, yield, and fruit size of two rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) cultivars Tifblue and Woodard. Fertilizer rates were either mixed with the soil under plants (before planting), sidedressed, or half-rate was placed under plants with the other half sidedressed. Fertilizers at planting caused a total of 34% ‘Woodard’ and 12% ‘Tifblue’ plants to die as compared to 6% for ‘Woodard’ and none for ‘Tifblue’ when no fertilizer was applied. Fertilizer formulas 2-1-1 and 5-10-10 oxide ratios placed under ‘Woodard’ plants caused 100% mortality whereas ‘Tifblue’ fertilized with oxide ratios 2-2-2 and 5-10-10 under plants reached the maximum 50% mortality. Splitting fertilizer placement under the side of the plants resulted in less ‘Woodard’ plant mortality (30%) than placing all the fertilizer under plants (54%). However, plant mortality for the side/under group was not different than sidedressing all fertilizer (23%). A planted hectare in this experiment consisted of 1852 ‘Tifblue’ and 926 ‘Woodard’ plants, providing one ‘Woodard’ plant to pollinate two ‘Tifblue’ plants. Based on the results obtained, the 5-10-10 fertilizer placed under plants would be expected to cause half the ‘Tifblue’ (926 plants) and all the ‘Woodard’ (926 plants) to be replanted. Plant costs alone was estimated to be $2315 with additional replanting costs of $93 for ‘Tifblue’ and much higher for ‘Woodard’. Sidedressing 5-10-10 fertilizer eight weeks after planting would have prevented plant mortality. Placement of various fertilizers under ‘Woodard’ or ‘Tifblue’ plants resulted in a significant increase in plant mortality as compared to side placement of fertilizers. Yield loss due to plant mortality increased linearly with the N level of the fertilizers (ranging from 0 to 2) for both cultivars. ‘Woodard’ fruit size was not affected by fertilizer placement but placing fertilizers under ‘Tifblue’ plants produced smaller yields with larger fruit than sidedressed plants. Blueberry plants in a virgin acidic soil may experience no reduction in yield if fertilization is completely eliminated.