I like to cut mine back by about a third in the autumn, this saves the base of the plant from damage by the wind catching the top growth and rocking the plant about. Then in the spring I cut it back again to about 2 feet high or even less. Haven't killed one yet!
I hope I'M not the "expert". Experts don't usually admit to muddling through for 60 years before feeling they can offer advice to any other poor soul as I do.
That's what I do maryplain especially as the wind here can be ferocious unless you create a nice little micro climate in the garden. I have a buddleia here which is like a tree at the bottom and will need to be moved so it'll be getting a big saw taken to it later in the year!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
And my pennies worth cut back long branches in autumn after flowering and hack it to the ground (leave about half a foot) in spring. Flowers stay at eye level so both I and the butterflies, bees etc can enjoy.
Mine are cut back almost to the ground every year, that makes for a really bushy plant, green right from the bottom, but I do cut off the old flowers as soon as they start to die, this is because they will seed everywhere, which I dont want, and you will get more flowers come, right through till late in the year.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I am loving this forum, great to get lots of helpful advice. I have always wanted a buddleia and just discovered today that a big ugly mass of brown sticks in the corner of my garden is in fact a buddleia. I moved in in november so it has been interesting watching everything coming to life. I has grown considerably and is smothering the plants next to it. I will give it a hard prune and hope i can get it looking great again.
Posts
I like to cut mine back by about a third in the autumn, this saves the base of the plant from damage by the wind catching the top growth and rocking the plant about. Then in the spring I cut it back again to about 2 feet high or even less. Haven't killed one yet!
I hope I'M not the "expert". Experts don't usually admit to muddling through for 60 years before feeling they can offer advice to any other poor soul as I do.
That's what I do maryplain especially as the wind here can be ferocious unless you create a nice little micro climate in the garden. I have a buddleia here which is like a tree at the bottom and will need to be moved so it'll be getting a big saw taken to it later in the year!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Not technically helpful I know, but pruning B's...a chain saw won't hurt them if done in spring
Everytime I look away mine have grown another foot.
And my pennies worth
cut back long branches in autumn after flowering and hack it to the ground (leave about half a foot) in spring. Flowers stay at eye level so both I and the butterflies, bees etc can enjoy.
thank you all for your help its just gone wild and need to bring it back under control xx
Mine are cut back almost to the ground every year, that makes for a really bushy plant, green right from the bottom, but I do cut off the old flowers as soon as they start to die, this is because they will seed everywhere, which I dont want, and you will get more flowers come, right through till late in the year.
I am loving this forum, great to get lots of helpful advice. I have always wanted a buddleia and just discovered today that a big ugly mass of brown sticks in the corner of my garden is in fact a buddleia. I moved in in november so it has been interesting watching everything coming to life. I has grown considerably and is smothering the plants next to it. I will give it a hard prune and hope i can get it looking great again.
so/unds lovely sara, are there photos
In the sticks near Peterborough