Butterfly Bush Pruning - How To Prune A Butterfly Bush

How to Prune Butterfly Bushes

Step 1 – Look for new growth. In late winter or early spring, butterfly bush leaves begin appearing low on the plant. ...
Step 2 – Cut just above new leaves. ...
Step 3 – Check your variety. ...
Step 4 – Prune out dead stems. ...
Step 5 – Walk around the plant.

What time of year do you cut back butterfly bushes?

Butterfly bush, or buddleia, performs best when cut back hard in the late winter or very early spring before new growth begins. I usually do this at the same time that I prune my roses, which in my Zone 7 garden is late February or early March.

Should butterfly bushes be cut back for winter?

Regarding your butterfly bush (Buddlia), you are safe to prune it at either time as long as it is late winter moving into early spring. Avoid pruning though in early winter. The reason being, the stems are hollow and any water that accumulates in the stem and subsequently freezes will cause the wood to split.

Do you deadhead butterfly bushes?

Caring for Butterfly Bushes

Remove spent flower spikes to encourage new shoots and flower buds. In addition, it is important to deadhead the flowers just as they start to wither so that this invasive plant doesn't spread volunteer seeds. ... The bush should bloom abundantly even in its first year.

How do I prune a butterfly bush?

As the head grows and fills in like the one above, prune stems just as you would any other butterfly bush: Remove a few older branches every year, and do a bit of shaping after the “tree” flowers. Trim off any sprouts from the ground or from along the trunk.

How do you trim butterfly bushes for winter?

When trimming a butterfly bush, try cutting back the lateral branches to help train the shrub to grow into a desired shape or keep it within a specific area. This will also help with filling in unsightly areas of the butterfly bush. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to pruning butterfly bushes.

How big do butterfly bushes get?

These large shrubs range from 5 to 8 feet tall and just as wide once they reach maturity. If you're looking for a smaller butterfly bush size, try a dwarf variety, which are in the 2 to 3-foot range. Yearly pruning will help keep the size of your butterfly bush manageable.

Should I cut my butterfly bush to the ground?

There is really no wrong way to go about pruning butterfly bushes. The shrubs are very stable and can take a good deal of stress without any significant side effects. Butterfly bushes will generally flower of new wood, so cutting them to the ground in winter is often times necessary for the plants to bloom.

Can you prune butterfly bushes in the fall?

Butterfly bushes can be pruned in the late fall after the flowers fade.

Should hydrangeas be cut back in the fall?

They are best pruned in fall or winter. Even if you cut canes back to ground level during dormancy, the shrubs will grow back and produce blooms in spring. However, pruning to the ground weakens the stems over time and you may have to stake the plants to keep them upright.

Why are butterfly bushes bad?

Each Butterfly Bush produces over 100,000 seeds, and they are distributed in the wind, so even though you may not see seedlings popping up in your garden, your Butterfly Bush is probably responsible for spreading devastation in natural areas like stream banks and disturbed industrial sites.

Are butterfly bushes toxic to dogs?

Although butterfly bushes (Buddleja davidii) are not edible, they are no more toxic than any garden plant. They should be safe to plant where children, dogs, cats, and other animals live.

Can you use Miracle Grow on butterfly bushes?

This method of fertilization should only be done once a year, and is best done in late fall after leaf drop, or in early spring before bud break. Liquid fertilizers (such as Miracle Gro) are mixed with water and applied the same as you would water the plant (see product for specific details).

Can you shape a butterfly bush?

While pruning is not absolutely necessary, butterfly bushes tend to bloom better and keep a better shape if pruned hard each spring. ... They can also be pruned in summer to encourage new blooms, or just to tame untidy growth.

How do I make my butterfly bush bushier?

If you prune the old woody stems of your Buddleias down to 12 to 18 inches tall, they will produce more branches that are lower, and regular clipping will make them bushier. Keep clipping the flowering tips, and the blooms will continue as well.

Can you keep a butterfly bush small?

Although butterfly bushes tolerate severe pruning to maintain a smaller size, you can reduce the time you'll spend pruning by planting it in a location with plenty of room for the plant to develop its natural size and shape.

Do butterfly bushes come back every year?

Butterfly bushes are perennial plants that die back to the ground every winter. They then send out new growth from the roots in the spring. You can prune them either in the late fall or in the early spring before the new growth starts.

How fast do butterfly bushes grow?

The fast-growing butterfly bush reaches a mature height of 6 to 10 feet tall in one or two growing seasons. The cone or wand-shaped flower heads grow 5 to 12 inches long and bloom from summer through fall. The flowers bloom on arching branches.

Why is my butterfly bush dying?

If the wilting leaves are shriveled and brown, the butterfly bush is suffering from lack of water. The butterfly bush needs water during its growth season in early spring and during dry spells throughout the season. If the wilting leaves are shriveled and green, the shrub suffers from herbicide toxicity.

Do hummingbirds like butterfly bushes?

The flowers from this bush is an attraction for hummingbirds because it has a high nectar count. Additionally, they are drawn to the long, brightly colored spikes resembling lilacs. As a result, it is possible to create a butterfly and hummingbird garden by including this gorgeous bloom.

When should you fertilize butterfly bushes?

Butterfly Bush are light feeders however will benefit from fertilization. Feed in late winter or early spring with a slow-release shrub & tree type fertilizer or a natural, organic plant food.

What time of year do you plant butterfly bushes?

Butterfly bush is best planted in the spring or fall. If planting in fall, make sure to get them in the ground well before first frost in order to develop a good root system before colder temperatures set in.