I think double pruning can be helpful but not so much because of wind rock. I find that if you prune in autumn then the new growth can be weaker and more straggly than if you cut them again (or only in) in spring, where they stay tighter and stronger.
We had one that popped up in a crack in the concrete path which grew really large over a couple of years (with normal pruning). Not as big as your whopper though! We cut it down to the ground one year in an attempt to get rid of it and back it came, as robust as ever. Builders managed to get it out when they rebuilt our kitchen.
The common one will grow anywhere I can't say I've ever noticed any major difference when pruning or not pruning them in autumn, but I've never left them in spring without pruning. They just get too big and you can't reach the flowers to deadhead. Bad enough when they are hacked back to the knees! I did leave a white one I inherited here, simply because I had far too much to deal with at the time to be bothered pruning it [and it was getting shifted anyway ] but I don't recall it being terribly different. The white ones are lovely, but the spent flowerheads always look much mankier than the dark ones. More noticeable
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Cut back halfway in autumn to prevent wind rock and resulting ice around the roots … but as you say the resulting regrowth in the spring can be poor … so prune hard back properly in spring for lush new growth and a well shaped bush 😃
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Ok I’m kinda worried now because I went and did it yesterday before seeing all these replies about doing it in spring. It was just so huge with spent flowers way high up. It’s still taller than me even though I’ve pruned it, hopefully not too hard as I’ll do it again in February/March time?
It'll be fine - no need to worry. Just do it again - depending on your conditions - late winter/early spring. If it's very frosty and cold just leave it a bit longer. They're virtually indestructible. I usually do mine in later April, because it's often still snowing/freezing here up until then.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ok I’m kinda worried now because I went and did it yesterday before seeing all these replies about doing it in spring. It was just so huge with spent flowers way high up. It’s still taller than me even though I’ve pruned it, hopefully not too hard as I’ll do it again in February/March time?
Sounds perfect to me … although I’d probably leave it until late March … 👍
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I pruned two large ones with arching 2-3 metre branches last week down to about a 1 metre framework. Now is a good time before the leaves dry out and don`t look nice. They were obscuring a pyracantha hedge with lots of red berries. The pruned branches make good plant supports and stakes once leaves and side shoots are removed. I will prune again in spring to restrain their eventual height. Their flowers scent is one of my favourites!
It'll be fine! It's pretty hard to kill a buddleia with too much pruning - the worst you can do is lose or delay flowering and that'll only happen if you prune off the new spring growth before it flowers.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
You can also prune in 'tiers' which can be useful. I do that with mine because they're part of the boundary. I leave the outer ones [next to the fence] a little longer, and hack the front ones hard, and I can then do a bit more later on to extend the flowering. If I can be bothered
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
I can't say I've ever noticed any major difference when pruning or not pruning them in autumn, but I've never left them in spring without pruning. They just get too big and you can't reach the flowers to deadhead. Bad enough when they are hacked back to the knees!
I did leave a white one I inherited here, simply because I had far too much to deal with at the time to be bothered pruning it [and it was getting shifted anyway ] but I don't recall it being terribly different.
The white ones are lovely, but the spent flowerheads always look much mankier than the dark ones. More noticeable
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Just do it again - depending on your conditions - late winter/early spring. If it's very frosty and cold just leave it a bit longer. They're virtually indestructible.
I usually do mine in later April, because it's often still snowing/freezing here up until then.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If I can be bothered
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...