Cutting back butterfly bush
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16 years ago
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flora2b
16 years agoremy_gw
16 years agoRelated Discussions
cutting back a butterfly bush
Comments (1)Are you pruning out dead wood, trying to rejuvenate it, or what? Also, since your picture didn't come through (guess you tried to post one since this post is in the gallery), I can't tell what it might have had to do with the text of your post....See MoreCut back Butterfly Bushes?
Comments (6)Donn, what are you transplanting them into, pots or beds. I would probably not cut them back yet, and go ahead and transplant them as quickly as possible, as they are starting to leaf. I would then see how they grow, and take it from there, pruning to make them bushier. The ones I receive from nurseries are normally one year plants, and have been pruned to develop a fuller plant, cut down to about 5-6 inches. So I think considerable pruning is done in the first year. These are cutting grown, not seedlings, so that may be different. May I also suggest --I have had really good luck transplanting buddleia into pots, and watering them in the first time with a weak Miracle Gro/ water solution. i think this would help in a bed also. Congratulations on your success in starting these from seed. By the way, they are very easy to start from cuttings. (Just be sure to avoid that nasty patent thing LOL) Polly...See MoreShould I cut back this butterfly bush?
Comments (8)Since it's clearly alive, I can't imagine there's any danger of trimming. It looks like there are 2 (live) tall branches sticking up much higher. Unless those 2 are very sturdy, I would cut them back, just above the lower growing nodes on those branches. If they are at all floppy, they won't be able to support all of the growth they will produce, and start to lean far away from the center. If it's just leaning over another part of the bed, that might be OK, but if it's going to lean into the yard, that could get annoying. If you are going to trim any live parts, I would do it soon before the plant wastes energy on those parts. The bonus is that the trimmed parts are extremely likely to grow if you keep them moist-not-soggy, mostly shady (until you notice new signs of growth.) With most cuttings, it's necessary to remove most of the foliage but I don't find that to be necessary for Buddleia cuttings....See MoreCutting back butterfly bush for size
Comments (2)I cut mine back to about 2' tall in early spring and leave them alone the rest of the year, except to cut the spent flowers (deadhead them) to keep the blooms coming. Occasionally, I'll cut back a "stick out" branch later in the year or a branch that's covering another smaller plant nearby - most butterfly bushes are very vigorous. Pruning revitalizes them, so don't be hesitant to do it. MissSherry...See Morepaulallen
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