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Budldleia Pruning
I have a few large buddleia my garden that are around 10ft high. I lost a few bits over the winter in the high winds probably because of the height.
I have read on here March is a great time to cut them back, which I plan to do, but my question is by how much. Do I actually cut them right back to a few feet high, or just take a few feet of the top?
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I usually cut mine down to about 2 - 3 feet, this promotes new growth and a bushier plant. My late mother had one that was about 15foot tall - but only the top couple of feet had any greenery and the flowers were sparse, it didn't look very nice either.
So if I cut them back to 2-3ft they do grow back eventually? Does it take a few years for them to get a little growth?
I'm soon getting bees for my garden so it would be nice to think I can get some growth back soon.
Hi DYL .... I also keep bees and Buddleia is a good source of nectar (no pollen though).
I've got about 8 bushes so I prune some very hard as suggested .... they then flower late in the summer. I'm a bit less brutal with 2 or 3 of them so that they flower earlier.
Also, don't forget to deadhead regularly throughout the season as you'll get so many more blooms and extend the season for your bees ... and for butterflies
Good luck with your hive!
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Yes, we also get two flowerings if we deadhead as they finish flowering for the first time - we find that they grow in most conditions but for the best results plant in a sunny spot.
I cut mine back to 2 - 3 feet and it grows to about 8 - 10 feet every summer. Just done it.
Thanks for everyone's help and advice. I shall cut them back this evening!
Glad to see this post, I planted 4 young buddleia last summer and just cut them back to 2/3 ft last night to keep them bushy from the start. Good to see I'm on the right path. Phew. ????. Next year I'll follow the tip above on being less harsh with one or two to catch the early flowering season on some, and rotate... Thanks.
They are lovely shrubs that attract butterflies when in flower. Personally I would never prune anything in the evening - as I believe that the raw cuts need to heal during the day before the cold of the night sets in - however buddleia are fairly robust plants.