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Pruning Buddlea

mr.dave.jonesmr.dave.jones Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hello

I have a buddlea bush that has never been pruned before and it looking rather spindly at the base, can I do anything to it, to enable a better growth



Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Yes.  Every spring you can cut it back about now to the lowest pair of buds on each stem.  It will regrow.

    In your case, it probably also needs feeding and better still potting into a bigger pot or planting out.  In any case, you should remove all the crud, excavate that moss and give it a top dressing of a couple of inches of good compost.  Planting composts only have food for 90 days so you will also need to apply a handful of fertiliser such as blood, fish and bone or pelleted chicken manure and give it a  good drink.   

    During the growing season, make sure it doesn't get thirsty so regular watering, especially in hot spells, and an occasional liquid feed of tomato or rose feed or dilute seaweed.  All of these are available at the GC or a good DIY store.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • mr.dave.jonesmr.dave.jones Posts: 3
    Hello

    Thank you for your reply, only 2 of the 5 stalks have a new shoot growing on the bottom 6 inch, the other 3 do not have any, can these be cut back without any new shoot?
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    mr.dave.jones said:
    Hello

    Thank you for your reply, only 2 of the 5 stalks have a new shoot growing on the bottom 6 inch, the other 3 do not have any, can these be cut back without any new shoot?
    Look closely at the bottoms of each stem and you'll see tiny dormant pairs of bud on either side of each stem. 
    If you can't see them, don't worry. Just cut the whole thing to about 6" / 15cm and it'll shoot away just fine.
    Devon.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd also remove all the other paraphernalia from the pot, including the canes and cable ties.
    They're easy enough to grow, but less so in containers, so you need to spend a little more time getting it healthy and ready to thrive. Make sure it also has room for drainage out of the pot. If you can put it on some feet [bits of wood or brick etc] that will help. 
    They're hard to kill though, so follow the advice given re cutting right back, and food/water and it should be fine.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    The giraffe may be taking all the goodness from the soil  :)
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    punkdoc said:
    The giraffe may be taking all the goodness from the soil  :)

    Dunno though - he doesn't look very well  :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • mr.dave.jonesmr.dave.jones Posts: 3
    Thanks for all the replies, I cut and repotted with some more compost adding Fish, Blood & Bone to the new mix.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
     :)  let us know how it gets on  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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