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Giving my Buddleia a good prune

PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
in Problem solving
Hi all

When we moved into our home I had a very neglected garden.  Last spring, I cut back a massive Elderflower Bush and found a plum tree and a Buddleia amongst it.

I have no experience with Buddleia. I gave it a trim initially and it did bloom with beautiful purple flowers which was a magnet to many butterflies. Once the flowers faded, I gave it another little trim. I have been told that I should give it a hard prune in spring.

I am in the North of England. When in spring should I do this? How hard is hard to cut it back? Is there any special technique I should be following?

Thank you 😁
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Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Buddleia flower best on new wood so in Spring are best cut back to about knee high. In the North, I would wait until March when you just see new shoots starting to appear. They are virtually impossible to kill.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 429
    Just cut it back hard. Around 30cm from ground level. You really cant damage buddleia, it'll soon grow back. I normally do mine around now but I'm waiting for the really cold weather to change.
  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    I would leave till end February or early March. You can cut to the ground, I usually leave about 12" or 18". It flowers on new wood produced this year.
  • clarke.bruntclarke.brunt Posts: 215
    I cut mine back hard yesterday despite the frost - the green bin was due! Did your elder tree fight back - I think they're a menace in the wrong place - it could swamp your plum and buddleia again!
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Not a good idea to prune in frosty weather or when frost is forecast because it damages cells newly exposed by the cuts and can promote disease and rotting.


    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
  • PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
    Thank you for your quick responses. 

    I was not expecting to cut the Buddleia back that hard. Quite nervous but I will follow your advice and do it.

    You can  watch the Elderflower grow @clarke.brunt it is kept in check and its growth is monitored. It is now a fraction of the size it was. Problem is, the birds like to purch on it and I dont want to spoil their fun.
  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    edited February 2021
    Your Elderflower will make delicious cordial if you let it flower. If you don't let it flower you may as well get rid. Is it the wild white one or the much nicer dark leaved and pink flowered one?
  • PurpleRosePurpleRose Posts: 538
    @Loraine3 it is a white one. There are in other gardens too that back onto ours.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    I also cut mine back to about 30cm (1 foot in old money) and it thrives on it.  I think they must be closely related to marestail as both survive no matter how much you try to destroy them.
  • TeTe Posts: 193
    Lizzie27 said:
    Buddleia flower best on new wood so in Spring are best cut back to about knee high. In the North, I would wait until March when you just see new shoots starting to appear. They are virtually impossible to kill.
    Very true Lizzie27, they can grow literally anywhere, don't get me wrong nice for the bee's and butterflies but keep you eye on them, as said once they finish flowering and drop seed they will germinate just about anywhere
    "There are a terrible lot of lies going about the world, and the worst of it is that half of them are true"
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