My autumn prune is just a quick 50% hack to prevent wind rock and takes ten minutes. The spring prune is to the structure I want and takes maybe 15 minutes. Not a big price to pay. I spend more time on deadheading for sure.
I am fed up with my Buddleia White Ball which I have already pruned (cut down) to about 40cm. It used to flower well and be covered in butterflies. The last two or three years the flowers have been poor and there have been few butterflies. I have had it for quite a number of years but have decided to remove it completely. I do not know what the root system is like. There are some lovely white paeonies planted in front of it and I would not wish to damage them. Any advice gratefully received. Thanks.
How and where is it planted @daisym ? Is it one of those 'patio' buddleias that can be pot grown. Anything pot grown needs a lot more attention than in the ground. Even a buddleia.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
In my experience buddleja don’t have very large root balls so I would have thought you could remove it without causing too much disturbance. If you are worried about the peonies, it may be better to gently lift them and then replant once you’ve dealt with the buddleja. A short while out if the ground shouldnt bother them at all
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
@Fairygirl It is planted in the ground, good soil, south facing with a 2 foot wall topped by an open fence on two sides. It is not a patio plant and grows to about 4.5 feet. Very bushy. @Butterfly66 Good idea to lift paeonies first. I will try that and then hopefully it will be able to be removed more easily. Many thanks for the replies which are very helpful
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Is it one of those 'patio' buddleias that can be pot grown. Anything pot grown needs a lot more attention than in the ground. Even a buddleia.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
@Butterfly66 Good idea to lift paeonies first. I will try that and then hopefully it will be able to be removed more easily.
Many thanks for the replies which are very helpful
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/buddleja-x-weyeriana-sungold/ ie cut hard back in March.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.