Butterfly bush (Buddleia) how prune? - My Dilemma
 

I also have questions concerning my butterfly bush. I have the 'davidii"
variety, and decided not to cut it back at all thinking that it would
continue where it left off (never said I was any good at this!)

Okay, I am in the Toronto area, approx. a zone 5B according to USDA and
Canadian maps.

The bush was planted going on 3 years, and last year, after cutting it back,
it grew splendidly, resulting in a bush approx. 3 feet in diameter.

Guess I decided to get greedy this year, and hoped it would grow from 3 feet
to what it could possibly do.

So, I haven't cut it back.

And now I am not sure it is going to grow correctly. Most of my garden is
well into coming back to life, except for the butterfly bush.

I have some pics someone can look at (caution, hi res, approx. 500k each
pic)

Picture 1 shows how I left the bush. I haven't trimmed it at all.

http://www.quickmire.com/temp/bbush1.jpg

Picture 2 is about the same, but if you look at the lower left main branch
of the bush, you can just make out new growth beginning on the main stock.

http://www.quickmire.com/temp/bbush2.jpg

Picture 3 is a close-up of the new growth. I have relatively new growth, but
what I do have is beginning from the main stock of the bush, which has me
thinking I should have cut it back to the main structure.

http://www.quickmire.com/temp/bbush3.jpg

And my question of the day is ... What should I do??? I read my books, and
the one that discussed the Buddleia davidii stated I should cut it back to
12 inches in the early spring. Being new at this, I am confused as to what
part to cut back; the branches, or the actual stocks.

Should I go and cut it back to the main stock now, or am I too late? Should
I leave it as is, and it will grow properly? My worry is cutting it back at
this stage of the growth.

Any help greatly appreciated, it is a beautiful butterfly bush, and from
this beginner gardener, one of the oldest plants in my garden.

"Polar" wrote in message
...

My Buddleia is blooming up a storm -- has grown very tall.

This is our first season together & I am not sure when/how much to
prune when it finishes blooming. The Western Garden Book is
no help in this regard.

Any advice welcome.

--

Zone 24/8
So. Calif Coastal

Polar


--

Zone 24/8
So. Calif Coastal

Polar

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) how prune? - My Dilemma
 

--
Mike Biddle
http://www.websiteworld.com
Phone: 865-379-7171
Fax: 865-379-7173
MSN Instant Message (not email IM Only)
" Any help greatly appreciated, it is a beautiful butterfly bush, and from
this beginner gardener, one of the oldest plants in my garden.


Looks pretty cut and dry to me. Cut back the bush, there is no new growth
anywhere at the top. Cut back the whole thing down to 3-4 feet. These things
grow at an incredible rate.

It is not too late to cut it back. The new growth on this one will start at
the bottom. I had one that I moved last fall that was in rough condition
from the previous owners of the house, and the main new growth all came from
under the ground and it is growing like a weed now!

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) how prune? - My Dilemma
 

It is only about 2 feet, maybe getting on 3 feet, in size.

Do I just cut back the branches, or do I want to cut the stocks (trunk,
whatever it is called)

How about if I cut back as this pic shows:

http://www.quickmire.com/temp/bbush1-1.jpg

or cut back everything except the stocks that show new growth?



"BiG Orange" @ wrote in message ...


--
Mike Biddle
http://www.websiteworld.com
Phone: 865-379-7171
Fax: 865-379-7173
MSN Instant Message (not email IM Only)
" Any help greatly appreciated, it is a beautiful butterfly bush, and
from
this beginner gardener, one of the oldest plants in my garden.


Looks pretty cut and dry to me. Cut back the bush, there is no new growth
anywhere at the top. Cut back the whole thing down to 3-4 feet. These
things
grow at an incredible rate.

It is not too late to cut it back. The new growth on this one will start
at
the bottom. I had one that I moved last fall that was in rough condition
from the previous owners of the house, and the main new growth all came
from
under the ground and it is growing like a weed now!

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) how prune? - My Dilemma
 

Ian wrote:

It is only about 2 feet, maybe getting on 3 feet, in size.

Do I just cut back the branches, or do I want to cut the stocks (trunk,
whatever it is called)

How about if I cut back as this pic shows:

http://www.quickmire.com/temp/bbush1-1.jpg

or cut back everything except the stocks that show new growth?

They tend to get ratty looking if not cut back at least every other year.
You get lots of tangled, oversized branches, which snap easily. Hard
pruning replaces the giant rat's nest with a more pleasing fountainlike
structure.

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) how prune? - My Dilemma
 

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In article ,
"Dr. Rev. Chuck, M.D. P.A." wrote:

Ian wrote:

It is only about 2 feet, maybe getting on 3 feet, in size.

Do I just cut back the branches, or do I want to cut the stocks (trunk,
whatever it is called)

How about if I cut back as this pic shows:

http://www.quickmire.com/temp/bbush1-1.jpg

or cut back everything except the stocks that show new growth?

Just FYI, and I'm not a "skilled" gardener.

We moved back into a home in Virginia which we left 6 years ago. The
garden had gone to hell. The Budelias were wild and totally out of
control.

Last fall, I cut 4 of 'em down to the ground with a saw.

This spring, all four are full of nice foliage. I'm going to prune 'em
back a bit in a day or so, just to get some more fullness.

IMHO, I wouldn't worry a bit about cutting your bush down as far as
you'd like.

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) how prune? - My Dilemma
 

I'll be heading out soon to cut it way back. Figure I can live with it
smaller, but at least blooming. I have butterflies starting to show up, they
need their nourishment!

"Charles "Stretch" Ledford" wrote in
message ...
In article ,
"Dr. Rev. Chuck, M.D. P.A." wrote:

Ian wrote:

It is only about 2 feet, maybe getting on 3 feet, in size.

Do I just cut back the branches, or do I want to cut the stocks
(trunk,
whatever it is called)

How about if I cut back as this pic shows:

http://www.quickmire.com/temp/bbush1-1.jpg

or cut back everything except the stocks that show new growth?

Just FYI, and I'm not a "skilled" gardener.

We moved back into a home in Virginia which we left 6 years ago. The
garden had gone to hell. The Budelias were wild and totally out of
control.

Last fall, I cut 4 of 'em down to the ground with a saw.

This spring, all four are full of nice foliage. I'm going to prune 'em
back a bit in a day or so, just to get some more fullness.

IMHO, I wouldn't worry a bit about cutting your bush down as far as
you'd like.

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) how prune? - My Dilemma
 

"Ian" expounded:

It is only about 2 feet, maybe getting on 3 feet, in size.

Do I just cut back the branches, or do I want to cut the stocks (trunk,
whatever it is called)

Don't cut anything until you see where it's going to resprout. Then,
cut just above those points. They are slow to sprout, be patient.

--
Ann, Gardening in zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
********************************

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) how prune? - My Dilemma
 

It was sprouting only at the very bottom on some large stocks, nothing
coming out anywhere on the vertical stocks, and all the branches were very
brittle.

So, I cut it back almost to the ground, leaving just the stocks that had
sprouts.

I only wish I could remember what I did last year. Did I just cut off the
branches, or did I cut it back to the ground? Whatever I did last year
resulted in a beautiful bush come July.

We'll soon see ...


"Ann" wrote in message
...
"Ian" expounded:

It is only about 2 feet, maybe getting on 3 feet, in size.

Do I just cut back the branches, or do I want to cut the stocks (trunk,
whatever it is called)

Don't cut anything until you see where it's going to resprout. Then,
cut just above those points. They are slow to sprout, be patient.

--
Ann, Gardening in zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
********************************

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) how prune? - My Dilemma
 

Well, I did cut my butterfly bush back all the way. Let's see what the
outcome is.

Post-Hacking pic:

http://www.quickmire.com/temp/bbushcut1.jpg

"Ian" wrote in message
able.rogers.com...
I also have questions concerning my butterfly bush. I have the 'davidii"
variety, and decided not to cut it back at all thinking that it would
continue where it left off (never said I was any good at this!)

Okay, I am in the Toronto area, approx. a zone 5B according to USDA and
Canadian maps.

The bush was planted going on 3 years, and last year, after cutting it
back,
it grew splendidly, resulting in a bush approx. 3 feet in diameter.

Guess I decided to get greedy this year, and hoped it would grow from 3
feet
to what it could possibly do.

So, I haven't cut it back.

And now I am not sure it is going to grow correctly. Most of my garden is
well into coming back to life, except for the butterfly bush.

I have some pics someone can look at (caution, hi res, approx. 500k each
pic)

Picture 1 shows how I left the bush. I haven't trimmed it at all.

http://www.quickmire.com/temp/bbush1.jpg

Picture 2 is about the same, but if you look at the lower left main branch
of the bush, you can just make out new growth beginning on the main stock.

http://www.quickmire.com/temp/bbush2.jpg

Picture 3 is a close-up of the new growth. I have relatively new growth,
but
what I do have is beginning from the main stock of the bush, which has me
thinking I should have cut it back to the main structure.

http://www.quickmire.com/temp/bbush3.jpg

And my question of the day is ... What should I do??? I read my books, and
the one that discussed the Buddleia davidii stated I should cut it back to
12 inches in the early spring. Being new at this, I am confused as to what
part to cut back; the branches, or the actual stocks.

Should I go and cut it back to the main stock now, or am I too late?
Should
I leave it as is, and it will grow properly? My worry is cutting it back
at
this stage of the growth.

Any help greatly appreciated, it is a beautiful butterfly bush, and from
this beginner gardener, one of the oldest plants in my garden.

"Polar" wrote in message
...

My Buddleia is blooming up a storm -- has grown very tall.

This is our first season together & I am not sure when/how much to
prune when it finishes blooming. The Western Garden Book is
no help in this regard.

Any advice welcome.

--

Zone 24/8
So. Calif Coastal

Polar


--

Zone 24/8
So. Calif Coastal

Polar

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) how prune? - My Dilemma
 

"Ian" expounded:

I only wish I could remember what I did last year. Did I just cut off the
branches, or did I cut it back to the ground? Whatever I did last year
resulted in a beautiful bush come July.

They are very fast growing, but they die back hard in our winters.
You've doing exactly what you should. If you cut them back too early,
for some reason, it's really easy to kill them. Enjoy!

--
Ann, Gardening in zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
********************************

Butterfly bush (Buddleia) how prune? - My Dilemma
 

In article
.rogers.com,
"Ian" wrote:

Well, I did cut my butterfly bush back all the way. Let's see what the
outcome is.


You'll be totally fine.. you'll lhave a much nicer bush. I cut mine
down WAY WAY WAY tighter than that.