Trimming Buddleja: A Step-by-Step Guide
Getting Your Buddleja davidii in Shape
If you want your butterfly bush to look its best, pruning is a must. Neglect to do this, and your buddleia could end up as a tangled mess of bare stems with flowers far above eye level.
Prune When
Give your buddleia a good trim in the early springtime. The more vigorous species can still reach heights of 3 meters by summer, while smaller variants like 'Nanho Blue' can be kept below 1.5 meters. On the other hand, waiting until later in spring to prune will cause your buddleia to bloom later in the summer, attracting pollinators like the peacock and small tortoiseshell just when they need it most. Prune as late as May, and you might see your buddleia flowering in August, providing valuable nectar when other sources are scarce.
Be aware that alternative types, like Buddleja alternifolia and Buddleja globosa, bloom on previous season's stems. Prune these in the spring, and you'll remove the flower buds. These varieties should not be severely pruned - instead, remove older branches in midsummer.
Purchasing Options
Sarah Raven and Crocus are online stores where you can buy buddleia. Thompson & Morgan is another good choice.
** Time to Prune Buddleia **
1. Gather Your Tools
You'll need secateurs, a pruning saw, and long-handled loppers.
2. Top It Off
First, trim the top growth to about half its height with your secateurs. This makes the pruning process easier and gives you better access to the base of the plant.
3. Take Out the Big Guns
Use a pair of loppers or a pruning saw to cut thick, woody stems about 30cm above the ground. Try to prune just above a bud or growing shoot. If you want the plant to grow taller than 3 meters, leave the stems up to 60cm long.
4. Clean Up
Remove any dead stubs and branches using the pruning saw or loppers. Cut back these dead parts flush with the main trunk to minimize the risk of dieback. Thin out any crossing branches to prevent rubbing, and remove any thin twiggy growth from the base of the plant. Don't worry about being too aggressive; the buddleia will quickly regrow.
5. Construct a Framework
Aim for a short, strong framework of five to six main branches. It doesn't matter if you can't see many green shoots, as the buddleia will produce new growth from underneath the bark. Lightly fork around the base to relieve any soil compaction caused by pruning, and apply a layer of mulch to the soil surface to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Overgrown Buddleia
Prune an overgrown buddleia in the same way as a regular one. First, remove the top growth so you can see what you're doing, and then use pruning saw and loppers to prune back to a framework 30-60 cm above ground level. With a buddleia, it's difficult to kill it, so don't fret about being too ruthless with pruning a large shrub.
Deadheading Buddleia
Deadheading your buddleia can prolong its flowering season, providing more garden interest and nectar for pollinators.
After maintaining the framework of your buddleia, consider incorporating it into your home-and-garden lifestyle by implementing a regular gardening routine, such as deadheading spent flowers to encourage reblooming.
When your garden is in full bloom, showcase your vibrant buddleia as a focal point in your home-and-garden or home-and-garden accessories, creating a harmonious lifestyle between your interior and exterior spaces.
