I remember reading here last year that they should be cut back around the
end of February or so. I was out today looking around my yard and my
butterfly bush, planted last year, is already putting out new leaf growth.
I don't want to do anything to damage it, but had planned to cut it back.
Am I too late? or is it still ok

Thanks

Vicky

YES

--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Forester & Tree Expert
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.


"arkienurse" wrote in message
t...
I remember reading here last year that they should be cut back around the
end of February or so. I was out today looking around my yard and my
butterfly bush, planted last year, is already putting out new leaf growth.
I don't want to do anything to damage it, but had planned to cut it back.
Am I too late? or is it still ok

Thanks

Vicky

In article ,
"arkienurse" wrote:

I remember reading here last year that they should be cut back around the
end of February or so. I was out today looking around my yard and my
butterfly bush, planted last year, is already putting out new leaf growth.
I don't want to do anything to damage it, but had planned to cut it back.
Am I too late? or is it still ok

Thanks

Vicky

Still O.K.
http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/mvv2-94.htm

It looks like you live where butterfly bushes usually go dormant and,
some times not. Apparently, you can whack these suckers right back to
the ground (I'm not recommending that) and they will bounce back.

Now get gardening.
--

Billy

Bush & Cheney & Pelosi, Behind Bars
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Sto...917874,00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movemen...George_W._Bush

On 1/31/08 7:24 PM, in article
, "arkienurse"
wrote:

I remember reading here last year that they should be cut back around the
end of February or so. I was out today looking around my yard and my
butterfly bush, planted last year, is already putting out new leaf growth.
I don't want to do anything to damage it, but had planned to cut it back.
Am I too late? or is it still ok

Thanks

Vicky



Vicky,
It would help to know where you are, but I'm in southern NH and will cut
mine back after the snow is gone in late February or early March. I'll go to
about 2 inches of "stump" (some of mine are pretty old) and most of my new
growth will come from near the larger of the stub ends.

C

If the new growth is started and starches are being converted to sugars, do
you not think it is too late to severely cut a B. Bush? Cutting back to 6"
is severe. Energy is being used at this time at their location to produce
new growth. Just an uneducated thought.

--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Forester & Tree Expert
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"Johnny Borborigmi" wrote in message
...
On 2008-01-31 19:24:16 -0500, "arkienurse" said:

I remember reading here last year that they should be cut back around the
end of February or so. I was out today looking around my yard and my
butterfly bush, planted last year, is already putting out new leaf
growth. I don't want to do anything to damage it, but had planned to cut
it back. Am I too late? or is it still ok

Thanks

Vicky


No you're not too late. What zone are you in? In NY they recommend waiting
until March or so.

On 2/1/08 9:34 PM, in article ,
"symplastless" wrote:

If the new growth is started and starches are being converted to sugars, do
you not think it is too late to severely cut a B. Bush? Cutting back to 6"
is severe. Energy is being used at this time at their location to produce
new growth. Just an uneducated thought.



Not in February, March or April in COLDER CLIMATES.

C

They stated "is already putting out new leaf growth" That new growth is
coming from reserved energy. It takes energy for buds to open no matter
where you are.


--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Forester & Tree Expert
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...
On 2/1/08 9:34 PM, in article
,
"symplastless" wrote:

If the new growth is started and starches are being converted to sugars,
do
you not think it is too late to severely cut a B. Bush? Cutting back to
6"
is severe. Energy is being used at this time at their location to
produce
new growth. Just an uneducated thought.



Not in February, March or April in COLDER CLIMATES.

C

"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...

Vicky,
It would help to know where you are, but I'm in southern NH and will cut
mine back after the snow is gone in late February or early March. I'll go
to
about 2 inches of "stump" (some of mine are pretty old) and most of my new
growth will come from near the larger of the stub ends.

So sorry, I am in extreme southern Arkansas. We may or may not get more ice
or snow, but if we do it will be for a day, 2 at most. In fact I have the
windows opened right now in my bedroom, as it is almost 60 outside, and is
supposed to be warm all week.

Vicky

"Billy" wrote in message
...
In article ,
http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/mvv2-94.htm

It looks like you live where butterfly bushes usually go dormant and,
some times not. Apparently, you can whack these suckers right back to
the ground (I'm not recommending that) and they will bounce back.

Now get gardening.
--

Billy


Thanks for the site, lots of good info

"Johnny Borborigmi" wrote in message
...
On 2008-01-31 19:24:16 -0500, "arkienurse" said:
No you're not too late. What zone are you in? In NY they recommend
waiting until March or so.

I just looked up the USDA Hardiness zone map. I am in a county in Arkansas
that is zoned 8a, but am 2 miles from a 7b zoned county. So I am right on
the line

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-sm1.html

"symplastless" expounded:

They stated "is already putting out new leaf growth" That new growth is
coming from reserved energy. It takes energy for buds to open no matter
where you are.

There are no butterfly bushes putting out new growth here in New
England, where Cheryl is also located. What part of


Not in February, March or April in COLDER CLIMATES.

did you not understand?

Here we always wait til bud break and prune out the winter dead .
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************