What time of year do you cut back butterfly bushes?

Prune in spring, after the new growth emerges. Many people cut their butterfly bush back in autumn, as part of their fall clean up. But particularly in cold climates, this can leave your butterfly bush more susceptible to damage over winter. Do not prune until you see green buds on the stems.

Do butterfly bushes need to be cut back?

Butterfly bushes do not need to be pruned every year. In fact, you only need to prune them when they get too large for the space allotted. But since butterfly bushes only bloom on new growth many gardeners prune them severely each spring to encourage lots of new growth and lots of flowers.

What happens if you don’t cut back a butterfly bush?

Failing to prune, especially for large butterfly bushes, can lead to plants that are too tall and have leggy growth and fewer flowers, since the plant needs energy just to feed the leaves on long stems.

How far do you cut back butterfly bushes?

Most people prefer to cut back the entire shrub to within a foot or two (31-61 cm.) from the ground, which actually allows it to become more manageable. Without pruning, the butterfly bush may become a bit unruly.

What should you not cut back in the winter?

Cut off any shoots at the base and remove dead, diseased or crossing branches. Do not prune stone fruits, such as cherries or plums, in winter as they risk being infected by a fungal disease called silver leaf. Prune them in early or midsummer instead.

Is it OK to prune bushes in winter?

Winter is usually the best time. You can prune shrubs at any time of year if it’s necessary—for example, to remove broken branches or dead or diseased wood, or to remove growth that is obstructing a walkway. However, when you prune a leafed-out shrub it’s harder to see what you’re doing.

How to prune a butterfly bush?

Typically, cutting back the entire plant is the most popular method for those seeking to learn how to prune a butterfly bush. However, trimming a butterfly bush whenever you want is another option. These amazing beauties will respond well regardless of how or when you decide to prune.

What to do with butterfly bush after flowering?

Remove spent blooms at the end of the season. At the end of the season, you should dead-head all of the now finished blooms. This will help the plant along when creating buds for the next year. It will also limit the butterfly bush’s chances of self-seeding and thus taking over your entire garden.

How do I know if my butterfly bush is ready to plant?

The plant tag will tell you the mature size of the cultivar you have chosen. Although butterfly bushes tolerate severe pruning to maintain a smaller size, you can reduce the time you’ll spend pruning by planting it in a location with plenty of room for the plant to develop its natural size and shape.

What happens when a butterfly bush dies?

When a plant dies back, the tips of the leaves or roots begin to die, slowly leading to a reverse death that ends in the death of the whole plant. Dieback is common in butterfly bushes in colder climates–butterfly bushes often dieback all the way to their roots in very cold winters.