I read about pruning butterfly bushes, but I have several bushes
planted last April. They are now about 4 feet tall. Should these
bushed be pruned back to 1-2 feet high as recommended for more mature
bushes?

PaulF

Forgot to mention I live in Zone 7B.

PaulF

"Paul Ferguson" wrote in message
...
I read about pruning butterfly bushes, but I have several bushes
planted last April. They are now about 4 feet tall. Should these
bushed be pruned back to 1-2 feet high as recommended for more mature
bushes?

PaulF


I'm in zone 5/6, upstate NY. Because I've read conflicting ideas about
butterfly bushes, there have been years when I haven't pruned mine at all,
and the first year in this house, I hacked it to 12" in February. That's
generally a bad idea because enough mild weather can cause plants to make
buds, and when winter returns, they can be damaged. But, nothing seems to
hurt the butterfly bush.

I've done everything in between, too. Even when hacked severely, it was
still 8-10 feet tall by July.

If you're pruning for shape, go ahead and do it now if you're bored and need
something to do. But, I don't see that it matters. You can prune for shape
almost any time during the growing season, and the crazy bush will be back
to its previous size in about 20 minutes.

Paul

Good question.
Generally speaking. I would treat them as a tree. Wait until second
growing season before pruning stems. You have. If you understood targets
when pruning a tree, then there are two critical periods. I.e., when the
leaves are forming and when the leaves are falling. Like an airplane. Two
times are critical - taking off and landing. Of course when pruning a BF
Bush you are indiscriminately pruning, like topping a tree. The old timers
used to say winter was the best time to prune a tree. The question really
was when is the best time to severely wound a tree because they did not
understand targets. You could do that now, as long as the leaves are not
forming, or after the flowers have died.

On the topic of pruning here are two outstanding, top quality books on
pruning trees and woody plants.
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/TPRUNING.html

http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/TPB.html

And a site on pruning
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...ing/index.html

Also, you could follow proper mulching instruction.
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/M/mulch.html

I hope this helps you Paul.

--
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.



"Paul Ferguson" wrote in message
...
I read about pruning butterfly bushes, but I have several bushes
planted last April. They are now about 4 feet tall. Should these
bushed be pruned back to 1-2 feet high as recommended for more mature
bushes?

PaulF

Phoon Hencman wrote:
On 2008-02-04 20:47:24 -0500, Paul Ferguson said:

I read about pruning butterfly bushes, but I have several bushes
planted last April. They are now about 4 feet tall. Should these
bushed be pruned back to 1-2 feet high as recommended for more mature
bushes?

PaulF



Prune it back near the last frost date. Don't do it now.

As someone who has grown Butterfly bushes for many years, I can say that
that is really BAD advice. New growth starts WAY before the last frost
date and if you cut back the bush then you are likely to have less
blooms that season.

I cut mine after about the second hard freeze in the late fall or early
winter. Then, in the spring, I trim lightly if needed (mainly for
"form").

If you did not cut them at all yet, I would do it now BEFORE any new
growth starts.
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)

Gardening for over 40 years

To see pictures from my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen

Digital Camera - Pentax *ist DL

Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail

"Phoon Hencman" wrote in message
...
On 2008-02-04 20:47:24 -0500, Paul Ferguson said:

I read about pruning butterfly bushes, but I have several bushes
planted last April. They are now about 4 feet tall. Should these
bushed be pruned back to 1-2 feet high as recommended for more mature
bushes?

PaulF


Prune it back near the last frost date. Don't do it now.

Why?

--
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.

"Bill R" wrote in message
...
Phoon Hencman wrote:
On 2008-02-04 20:47:24 -0500, Paul Ferguson said:

I read about pruning butterfly bushes, but I have several bushes
planted last April. They are now about 4 feet tall. Should these
bushed be pruned back to 1-2 feet high as recommended for more mature
bushes?

PaulF



Prune it back near the last frost date. Don't do it now.

As someone who has grown Butterfly bushes for many years, I can say that
that is really BAD advice. New growth starts WAY before the last frost
date and if you cut back the bush then you are likely to have less blooms
that season.

I cut mine after about the second hard freeze in the late fall or early
winter. Then, in the spring, I trim lightly if needed (mainly for
"form").

If you did not cut them at all yet, I would do it now BEFORE any new
growth starts.
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)

Gardening for over 40 years

To see pictures from my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen

Digital Camera - Pentax *ist DL

Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail

Bill, I have great respect for you and agree with your diagnosis and
treatment recommendations. Keep up the good work!

I would say this guy can be trusted. By the words that he uses.

--
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.

I like the way you are providing nutrients, elements and cellulose with your
addition of wood.

--
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.



"Bill R" wrote in message
...
Phoon Hencman wrote:
On 2008-02-04 20:47:24 -0500, Paul Ferguson said:

I read about pruning butterfly bushes, but I have several bushes
planted last April. They are now about 4 feet tall. Should these
bushed be pruned back to 1-2 feet high as recommended for more mature
bushes?

PaulF



Prune it back near the last frost date. Don't do it now.

As someone who has grown Butterfly bushes for many years, I can say that
that is really BAD advice. New growth starts WAY before the last frost
date and if you cut back the bush then you are likely to have less blooms
that season.

I cut mine after about the second hard freeze in the late fall or early
winter. Then, in the spring, I trim lightly if needed (mainly for
"form").

If you did not cut them at all yet, I would do it now BEFORE any new
growth starts.
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)

Gardening for over 40 years

To see pictures from my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen

Digital Camera - Pentax *ist DL

Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail

In article ,
Phoon Hencman wrote:

On 2008-02-04 20:47:24 -0500, Paul Ferguson said:

I read about pruning butterfly bushes, but I have several bushes
planted last April. They are now about 4 feet tall. Should these
bushed be pruned back to 1-2 feet high as recommended for more mature
bushes?

PaulF


Prune it back near the last frost date. Don't do it now.

Are they dormant or still in leaf?
--

Billy

Bush, Cheney & Pelosi, Behind Bars
http://rachelcorriefoundation.org/site/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movemen...George_W._Bush

On Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:19:49 -0500, Bill R
wrote:

Thanks for the information. One thing I was assuming is if I prune my
butterfly bushes they will grow bigger and fuller than if I do not
prune them. Is this correct? Since they are only about 3-4 feet tall,
I do not need to prune them just to reduce their size or modify their
shape.

Thanks,
PaulF

Phoon Hencman wrote:
On 2008-02-04 20:47:24 -0500, Paul Ferguson said:

I read about pruning butterfly bushes, but I have several bushes
planted last April. They are now about 4 feet tall. Should these
bushed be pruned back to 1-2 feet high as recommended for more mature
bushes?

PaulF



Prune it back near the last frost date. Don't do it now.

As someone who has grown Butterfly bushes for many years, I can say that
that is really BAD advice. New growth starts WAY before the last frost
date and if you cut back the bush then you are likely to have less
blooms that season.

I cut mine after about the second hard freeze in the late fall or early
winter. Then, in the spring, I trim lightly if needed (mainly for
"form").

If you did not cut them at all yet, I would do it now BEFORE any new
growth starts.

In article ,
Paul Ferguson wrote:

On Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:19:49 -0500, Bill R
wrote:

Thanks for the information. One thing I was assuming is if I prune my
butterfly bushes they will grow bigger and fuller than if I do not
prune them. Is this correct? Since they are only about 3-4 feet tall,
I do not need to prune them just to reduce their size or modify their
shape.

Thanks,
PaulF

Phoon Hencman wrote:
On 2008-02-04 20:47:24 -0500, Paul Ferguson said:

I read about pruning butterfly bushes, but I have several bushes
planted last April. They are now about 4 feet tall. Should these
bushed be pruned back to 1-2 feet high as recommended for more mature
bushes?

PaulF



Prune it back near the last frost date. Don't do it now.

As someone who has grown Butterfly bushes for many years, I can say that
that is really BAD advice. New growth starts WAY before the last frost
date and if you cut back the bush then you are likely to have less
blooms that season.

I cut mine after about the second hard freeze in the late fall or early
winter. Then, in the spring, I trim lightly if needed (mainly for
"form").

If you did not cut them at all yet, I would do it now BEFORE any new
growth starts.

Next time, google it.
http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/mvv2-94.htm

According to Mountain Valley Growers, you can whack it back to the
ground, whether it is dormant or vegetative, and it will bounce back. If
it is budding or pushing, you will have wasted some of it's energy
reserves, which will reduce its' vigor but you won't seriously damage
it. With grape vines, if you prune just before bud break, it will delay
budding a couple of weeks and may get you past a late frost before it
starts to push.
--

Billy

Bush, Cheney & Pelosi, Behind Bars
http://rachelcorriefoundation.org/site/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movemen...George_W._Bush

symplastless wrote:

"Bill R" wrote in message
...

Phoon Hencman wrote:

On 2008-02-04 20:47:24 -0500, Paul Ferguson said:


I read about pruning butterfly bushes, but I have several bushes
planted last April. They are now about 4 feet tall. Should these
bushed be pruned back to 1-2 feet high as recommended for more mature
bushes?

PaulF



Prune it back near the last frost date. Don't do it now.

As someone who has grown Butterfly bushes for many years, I can say that
that is really BAD advice. New growth starts WAY before the last frost
date and if you cut back the bush then you are likely to have less blooms
that season.

I cut mine after about the second hard freeze in the late fall or early
winter. Then, in the spring, I trim lightly if needed (mainly for
"form").

If you did not cut them at all yet, I would do it now BEFORE any new
growth starts.
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)

Gardening for over 40 years

To see pictures from my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen

Digital Camera - Pentax *ist DL

Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail


Bill, I have great respect for you and agree with your diagnosis and
treatment recommendations. Keep up the good work!

I would say this guy can be trusted. By the words that he uses.


Thank you John.
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)

Gardening for over 40 years

To see pictures from my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen

Digital Camera - Pentax *ist DL

Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail