Pruning Butterfly Bushes (Buddleia)

This video is all about pruning butterfly bushes: when to prune; why you should prune; and how to prune. I show you how to prune your butterfly bushes in a straight-forward, easy way. Fertilizer and deadheading - are they necessary - are also discussed. Click on Chapter links below to jump to a specific section.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:19 - When to prune butterfly bushes - Spring versus Fall
1:31 - Why prune butterfly bushes at all?
2:29 - Pruning supplies for butterfly bushes
2:48 - How to prune butterfly bushes
9:08 - Cleanup!
9:31 - Fertilizer for butterfly bushes - Is it necessary?
9:57 - Deadheading butterfly bushes
🦋 Please hit the like button - and subscribe - if this video was helpful to you! 🦋
🦋 VIDEO: HOW TO DEADHEAD BUTTERFLY BUSHES 🦋
Learn easy tips for deadheading your butterfly bushes!
Watch here: • Deadheading a Butterfl...
🦋 TOOLS USED IN THE VIDEO 🦋
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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🦋 FERTILIZER MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO 🦋
Although it isn’t necessary to fertilize butterfly bushes, you can use a general slow-release organic fertilizer.
☀️ Plant-tone by Espoma: amzn.to/3iDjIQO
You can see all of my favorite gardening tools, gardening books and gifts on my Amazon page: www.amazon.com/shop/gardensanity
🦋 WATCH: MORE EASY PRUNING TIPS 🦋
Watch my Pruning Videos Playlist, which includes pruning demos and tips on Hydrangeas, Knock Out Roses, Dappled Willow, evergreens and more!
Pruning Videos Playlist: • Pruning and Deadheadin...
#pruningbutterflybush #butterflybush #gardensanity

[@obuchiteck]

As a new homeowner, I never knew that I had to learn so much about plants! This is one fantastic tutorial. Thank you.

[@barbaradeleon5770]

I can’t tell you how helpful you were. I was kind of afraid to prune my one remaining butterfly bush. I pruned it a month or two ago, based on your instructions and I’m so happy with the results. I had so many dead and spindly branches that I got rid of. There were one or two very old dead branches that were so big around that I had to saw them off. I sprayed a sealer on the bare ends. I’m so very happy with the results! Thank you so very much!!!

[@GardenSanity]

I am so thrilled to read this Barbara! There's nothing better than seeing the wonderful results of pruning a flowering shrub! And hopefully next year's pruning will be even easier for you! I hope you - and the bees and butterflies - enjoy the wonderful flowers and your hard work! 🐝 🦋 💛

[@halifjones1799]

When you said becouse you googled when do I prune my butterfly bush... you were talking to me lol

[@GardenSanity]

😂 I totally get it! We want our gardening questions answered! 👍🦋

[@susanharvey7733]

I like the way you put sentences up on screen. This helps me remember what you say.Nice , informative video!

[@GardeningSpirit]

This was really great! Very informative & detailed.. thank you!

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome Alexandra! 🦋 And thank you for the feedback! 😊

[@oksana7301]

Thank you for the information Can’t wait till spring

[@GardenSanity]

You're most welcome Oksana! I know you'll enjoy watching how wonderfully your butterfly bush grows back and flowers next Summer! 🦋😃

[@rspruill1422]

Awesome thank you this is very informative I liked your garden area there I'm gonna have to binge watch your videos this weekend to see the rest of your gardens❤

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Robyn -- so glad this was helpful! Enjoy the binge watching, and I'll keep creating more videos! 😄 🎬 💜

[@eileenahearn5170]

Thank you for the info. Got a 2 year old dwarf that is looking very healthy but odd shaped so this tells.me how to prune it correctly. Very helpful!

[@gaiasmoon]

So helpful! Thank you🍀

[@dennisthornton4384]

Well done, all the information that I needed. Have been doing it not quite Kosher but now I know. Not budding as of 4/5/23 Canal Fulton Ohio

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Dennis -- happy to help! 🙂 Once you get a few days of warm weather, I bet the buds will begin to show. We had a crazy 81-degree day yesterday (way too early) and everything seemed to pop! Happy Spring! 🦋

[@adjesprangers3738]

Thank you, very clear explanation!

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome Adje -- and thanks for your feedback! Happy Spring! 🦋

[@AmirsAllotment]

Lovely information 😊 🦋

[@GardenSanity]

Thank you Amir! 🦋

[@kathleenruss940]

Thank you, very informed video

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome Kathleen! Glad I could help! 🦋🙂

[@Amoebatirith]

I had to find a video. I pruned down severely like this last year. I know it did fine as a beautiful bush emerged with tons of blooms. However my landlord moved in to the unit above mine and he was shocked by the haircut I gave the bushes this year. I had to show him that it's normal and will only look like a shabby bad haircut for a few weeks at most before it would be unnoticeable with vigorous growth.

[@rob5763]

Hi Miss Sanity. This is the best pruning video I have ever seen. Very clear cut ( no pun intended ) and informative. I have never pruned my butterfly bushes so I wish I had seen your video earlier. It's probably too warm now to prune and some of the branches are shooting straight up with a flower or two on each. Is it ok to deadhead them a bit now or should I just leave it all for next spring? Thanks for posting this.

[@GardenSanity]

Hello Rob, and I'm sorry for my delay in responding. I'm so glad this video was helpful to you -- and next Spring you will be all set to prune your butterfly bushes with confidence! I realize it is November now, but yes you can deadhead butterfly bushes all season long, and it helps the bush push out more flowers plus cleans up the look of the shrub. Next Spring, after pruning, you'll be amazed at how the shrub grows back nice and full with many flowers! 🦋😀

[@dariax6301]

Excellent video and demonstration. I have one butterfly bush over 10 ft tall!! It is a bit "leggy" I guess I pruned too conservatively in the Spring. Next spring I will prune it more. Thanks 🙂.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks for the feedback Daria! 😊 I think whenever we first prune a shrub, it can seem really harsh to prune it back -- and with butterfly bushes, it can seem really extreme to prune so far down to the ground! You were smart to be a bit conservative at first. It's amazing how much butterfly bushes grow in just one season! Mine grew back to their usual 5 to 6 feet height, and are still putting out flowers and smelling sooooo good! Hope yours are still blooming too! 🦋

[@theodorerzepski8491]

excellent tutorial/ Thanks

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome -- and thanks for the feedback! 🦋

[@TracysHomeGarden]

Here is one bush that don’t do well in my gardens because of our wet spring that’s when all the snow melt and rain we get that keeps their “feet wet”. Even with planting “above soil level” et al…they still don’t do well for me. 😳 Love love them though….your garden is definitely 4-6 weeks ahead of us in colder northern zone 5 (Canada). I will be enjoying their blooms in your garden Laura. 💚💚💚

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Tracy! Yes, I know what you mean: there are plants I can't grow but admire them in other gardens from afar! 🌸 I look forward to watching your garden begin to wake up soon! ☀️ 🌼 🌺 💚

[@CapysGardenShop]

Mine stayed leafy all winter, 8b, Seattle. I trim it like a bonsai. 😂I say that because it takes forever!

[@GardenSanity]

I'm laughing out loud Piccoli at your "trim it like a bonsai" comment! 🤣I know exactly what you mean! We had such a mild Winter this year in southern New Jersey, that mine remained leafy as well this year. 🦋

[@GrowingonVancouverIsland]

Great information! I just planted my first butterfly bushes this spring. They are tiny, butvby next spring maybe I will need to do a tiny bit of pruning.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks! 😊 Enjoy your new butterfly bushes! Which variety do you have? 🦋

[@AlexK5912]

Excellent video thanks. Good timing too, because i was going to go out this weekend and prune my overgrown butterfly bush lol. I will wait until Spring. 🙂

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks for the feedback Alex! And glad I helped you out! What variety or color do you have?

[@AlexK5912]

@@GardenSanity I’m not sure but it looks like the one in your video 😊

[@GardenSanity]

@@AlexK5912 Isn't the scent fantastic when you get up close? I love how subtle it is, that it doesn't bombard you from across the yard! Keep me posted next Spring on how yours does with the pruning and growing back! 🦋

[@AlexK5912]

@@GardenSanity Hi again. Should my butterfly bush be showing new growth by now? I am not seeing any. I live in the Mid Atlantic. Thanks.

[@GardenSanity]

@@AlexK5912 Hi Alex, as I mentioned in the beginning of the video, in some cases butterfly bushes are very late to show any signs of buds. Some gardeners don't see buds until early June, depending on your gardening zone and what kind of Winter season you had. Last year I didn't prune mine until the end of April, while this year -- because of our super mild Winter -- I have leaves already on them! You can always take your pruners and gently scrape on a branch that you would end up pruning anyway, to see if there is some green underneath the stem covering. Keep me posted!

[@MrsRGAllen]

Great video! I feel so encouraged. I trimmed both of my butterfly bushes today. What does it mean when there isn't any greenery at the bottom, so I had to trim much much higher to find new growth? (I suspect it means it hasn't been pruned in years??) I saved your video for future reference. TIA

[@gaiasmoon]

I should also say, that I did this last spring and was terrified! It was so short afterwards. I was just looking at my bush and it’s over my head now!💗

[@lisaf7688]

Oh no, I saw this too late. Hope I didn’t prune my Pugster Blue too much! uggg 😩😞. I’m lost without you 😆

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Lisa - How much of your Pugster Blue did you prune?

[@lisaf7688]

@@GardenSanity Hello! Oh it’s about a two inch stub. 🤦‍♀️😩

[@GardenSanity]

@@lisaf7688 It will be fine Lisa! No worries! It's a dwarf anyway, so your Pugster will only grow to about 2 feet tall at the most normally. Remember to be patient seeing new growth, depending on where you're located in the US, as in some colder areas butterfly bushes leaf out rather late. If you're already seeing buds and leaves -- even better! 😀 🦋

[@lisaf7688]

@@GardenSanity Thank you, Laura! 💚

[@GardenSanity]

No problem! 💕🌸

[@chrismarchetti-olson6632]

Put your pruners down and BACK away from those pruners!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I had a good laugh!! This really helped a lot as I have two of them I just bought last spring and your how to videos are SO much more interesting than reading plant tags!! So thank you. Do you have coralberry bushes too? Your birds sing so beautifully abs they were louder than the mower!! 🤣🤣. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge 🌷🌷🌷

[@GardenSanity]

Glad you got a good laugh Chris! 🤣 Which Butterfly Bush variety do you have? I love them all! I’m going to keep this as a tag line: Garden Sanity: More interesting than reading plant tags! 😊😂 I don’t have coralberry bushes but maybe someday - they are so pretty with their berries! ❤️🌸

[@chrismarchetti-olson6632]

It was a great laugh!!! I could see the police there and SWAT team, guns pointed…… BACK AWAY FROM THE PRUNERS!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. I have the blue or Deep Purple butterfly bush like yours and then I have the lighter purple one. Pruned them today just like you showed and I have high expectations for them. The coralberry is only a 3’x3’ so at least it’s not taking over but it’s gorgeous in the late fall when those light pink berries glow when everything else is entering their beauty sleep phase. This morning, in between rainfalls I finally planted the two pinky winky hydrangeas and put some deer repellent granules on them just in case……. I don’t know if it will do anything but it sure stimulated my neighbor’s dog to have some 💩💩💩 next to it 🤣🤣🤣🤣. I am constantly laughing and my neighbors ran outside with a bag apologizing and they saw me laughing with tears lol. Next I planted 3 firelight tidbits and waiting on 5 more and I planted them under the incrediball hedge so I cannot wait yo see the show in a couple of years!!! I wish I could show you but don’t know how to send video! The dappled willows are starting to bud and hopefully it will not snow again 😡. It should rain again shortly so yayyy free water! 😁. Have a wonderful day Laura and whether you see me on your media as Olson, Mutschlechner or Marchetti, it’s always me 😂.

[@GardenSanity]

Yes, indeed -- there needs to be a siren going off for people who want to just prune everything down in the Fall and be done with it! 🤣 I love seeing the color pink in Fall gardens. Not everyone thinks of pink as a Fall color, but I think it mixes in perfectly with oranges and reds and browns. I have pink Japanese Anemones, and I'm planning on buying a pink Bluebeard this year. And of course, all of the hydrangeas turning pinks and rosy colors into Fall are stunning too. 🌸 🌺 OK -- I am laughing at your story about the neighbor's dog! 😂 🤣 Why are animals pooping where we're trying to garden? That's like the bird that pooped near me this year...which was probably the same one that pooped ON me last year! You can send me photos at least, which I'd love to see! ([e-mail]) as I'm dying to see all of those hydrangeas you have and plan on adding! As for your various social media identities -- very mysterious! 😂 🤣

[@chrismarchetti-olson6632]

@@GardenSanity I will do just that!!

[@GardenSanity]

@@SunrayStar Well who knows, I kinda like it as a tag line! 🤣❤️

[@mastergaroa]

Very informative video, thank you. We moved into a home 2 months ago in the SF East Bay (Zone 9b). The previous owners created a fabulous garden but they both fell ill and let everything go for probably the last 4 years. California poppy Romneya Coulteri is about 8 feet tall x 7' deep x 15' wide, plumbago 8 ft tall x 10 ft in diameter with butterfly bush and trumpet vine within. Multiple fruit trees also. Where do I even begin, and how aggressive can I be with the pruning to keep the plants healthy and not damage them?

[@GardenSanity]

Wow! Sounds like you have a wonderful garden with your new home! Congratulations! 🌺🌿 Because you don’t really have a dormant season like we do in the Northeast US, your window for pruning shrubs and trees is very different and my guess is more flexible too. 👍 My best advice is to seek out a fantastic local nursery staffed with employees who know their plants. Ask their recommendation for the best time to prune in general, as it may be Fall, or late Winter/early Spring. Once you have that info, then it’s time to make a plan. You want to prune when plants, shrubs and trees will be the least stressed, i.e. not during a 100-degree day. I would start by making a list of all that needs to be cut back, pruned, tamed, etc. Pick a section of the property to begin - OR - pick a type of shrub or tree to begin pruning. For example, pruning all of your fruit trees (whenever the proper time is) or pruning a particular garden bed or area which contains different perennials and shrubs. If you try and prune everything at once, you may not like looking at everything cut back plus it’s easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed by the entire process. But if you tackle a bit at a time AND build in time to appreciate your progress, this can end up being a really fun project as you slowly restore the garden to its former splendor and add sone of your own touches too. Does this help give you a starting point? I hope so! 💕🌳🦋😀

[@maureenwolford5869]

I think i have a variety that grows tall. Can i keep it trimmed down to be more of a bush instead of a tree?

[@EpicRide2]

Great video! Thank you for the information! Is it too late to prune my 4ft butterfly bush that is fully leafed out now on May 21st in Grand Rapids, Mi? It is looking very healthy but a bit wild and untamed.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Nate! No, it's not too late at all to prune your butterfly bush! 👍You're in a good climate right now, and the plant won't suffer any heat stress from the pruning since the weather is still on the mild side. The plant will be happier and I'm gathering so will you! 😄🦋

[@allisonamler6534]

Hi, thank you for the helpful videos. I’m a beginning gardener and moved to a house with the most beautiful flower beds and plants! I’m trying to maintain it all, I love the joy they bring! The butterfly bush we have is tall like a tree (over 6ft). Should I still prune it down to 6-18inches?

[@badmotherhumper]

Im with you , same boat. still searching... my plan is to try every other stem varieing between 2 and 4 feet. then next year mabey all the way to the 18" all round.

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Allison -- butterfly bushes benefit from hard pruning, especially if they haven't been pruned in awhile -- although if you've moved into a new home with gorgeous gardens no doubt they were maintained properly! Yes, these shrubs do grow back even with pruning. While I can't guarantee they will return to the "exact" height they were -- they will return to the height they are supposed to be. For example, mine have a mature height between 4 and 6 feet. Every Summer they are between 5 and 6 feet by late Summer -- blooming all the while as they continue to grow. Flowering will also be much better after pruning. The growth kicks in once the weather warms up and really takes off in the heat of the Summer. 😃👍🦋

[@GardenSanity]

@@badmotherhumper You can prune all of the stems at the same time and they will still grow back wonderfully! Please see my reply above to Allison -- if you're unsure then try only pruning them to 2 feet to begin. I hope this helps! 👍🦋

[@Cognitiveleaper]

One can root the cuttings in water, if desired.

[@GardenSanity]

Yes indeed! Either cuttings in water or using a rooting hormone and potting the cuttings up will work well. 👍😀

[@rbthegardennannyllc4219]

What about Butterfly Bushes that are in a small mound? Right now it looks dead -- do you wait for new growth on that as well from the base or on the stem. It looks like a small spirea but it's a Butterfly bush. Thanks for your very thorough video. Loved it!

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Renee -- I would wait for the new growth. Did these plants die back to the ground completely during the Winter, or are there still stall stems on the plant? Let me know!

[@rbthegardennannyllc4219]

@@GardenSanity still stems on the plant.

[@GardenSanity]

@@rbthegardennannyllc4219 If you're still not seeing any new growth, hang in there. Several gardeners are seeing growth later than usual this year due to the deep freezes that occurred during the Winter.

[@rbthegardennannyllc4219]

@@GardenSanity thanks so much.

[@semsimama2191]

Question? I pruned my Butterfly Bush in the spring and it grew very nice, but just one problem it started to break from the base and I don't know why? Thanks

[@GardenSanity]

That's a new one for me. By "break from the base" do you mean the largest (thickest) stems are cracking? Or are they falling over?

[@coreydane]

This was SO HELPFUL, thank you! 🙌🏻I planted my first butterfly bush last fall (Black Knight) and was afraid I got it in the ground too late, but it's already leafed out and looking like it may have survived winter! (I think the unusually warm temps in Grand Rapids, MI [5b] may have something to do with it. It reached 80° back-to-back a couple days this week! 🥵) Quick question for you, should I wait until next spring to prune while the plant establishes itself, or is it ok to prune the taller branches and sort of mound it for shape this weekend?

[@GardenSanity]

Glad to help Corey! Black Knight is a pretty variety and can grow 6-8 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide in one season. Depending on how big your butterfly bush is currently, I’d prune it at least a bit this year. Your suggestion of getting the taller branches and shaping sounds perfect! (Mine leafed out in our 2 days of 87-degree weather last week too!) 🦋😀

[@coreydane]

@@GardenSanity Thanks for the tips! I’ll take your advice and prune it once all threat of snow has passed. You read that right! 40% chance of snow in western Michigan this week! 🥶

[@GardenSanity]

@@coreydane I hope your pruning went well Corey! (And I also hope the snow is all gone for you! I saw that it snowed in Vermont and New Hampshire today and it’s mid-May!

[@coreydane]

@@GardenSanity Thanks for checking in! Pruning went well. Shape is great, now I'm just waiting for it to take off! (Hardest part about gardening for me, letting plants do their thing!)

[@GardenSanity]

@@coreydane So how did your Black Knight butterfly bush do this season? 🦋 I'm sure like you said the waiting was hard -- I don't know of any gardener who is truly patient with their gardens -- but I'm hoping it was worth the wait!

[@debdav62]

I just planted 3 pugsters and 2 black knights. I see in this video that you pruned them really short. Will my black knights (6 to 8 feet at maturity) still grow to that size if I prune them that short? Also, do you have any videos on catmint care?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Deb -- I love the pugsters -- they're on my never-ending list to add to my own garden beds -- and the black knights have stunning color! Good choices! Yes, your black knights will grow back just fine. It's always amazing how tall butterfly bushes grow in just one year! I can't tell you if they will grow back to be 6 feet tall or 7 or 8, but they will grow back into their full size. They really take off once Summer weather kicks in! 🦋 I have a video on Cat's Pajamas Catmint: "Cat's Pajamas Catmint Doesn't Love Me Back" -- not kidding, and I was SO disappointed they didn't work for my own growing conditions. Here's the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJ3NdZ9-hqqnsNUsi=OW8IP4npLaIhSTku I will try planting catmint again, but a different variety in a full sun and drier setting. 👍

[@33MotherNature]

Hi, I’m in zone 9, and would like to know how often I should water this plant? Most articles say don’t overwater, but since I’m in a very hot area, would once a week be too often? I know these questions are difficult to know exactly how to advise. I appreciate any info you offer. Thank you

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Debbie! I think your best bet is what you suggested: start with once a week and see how the Butterfly Bush does. You'll know if it is too much water because the leaves will begin to turn yellow - which can be confusing as that's how leaves turn on many plants when they are dying too. If you see some yellowing, just expand the time between watering. It's always tough to figure out these drought-tolerant plants when we first have them, to make sure we're not overwatering. I go through this too!

[@adammalak3002]

Do you have advice on how and when to trim a burning bush?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Adam, Definitely trim your burning bush in the Spring -- as you hopefully are enjoying the wonderful red Fall color now. 👍 In the Spring, you can prune them to any size you want -- whether you want to do a harder pruning of a foot or remove just a few inches from each stem. I like to prune before the shrub leafs out, but when you see the buds and small leaves forming, as that makes it easy to see any stems that are dead with no growth on them at all. Then it's just a matter of shaping up the shrub to your liking. I plan on doing a video about this next Spring. 🙂

[@kjeanjbean]

Is there a certain time of day and a temperature range that's best for this? Our temps fluctuate so much in spring until later in May when it just starts getting hot out. Zone 7b

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Kelly, it's best to prune now before the hot weather kicks in. Butterfly bushes love heat, so they can handle pruning even if the temperatures are warmer -- however -- it's best to prune them before we get all of that hot weather. Now is a perfect time! As for the time of day, it really doesn't matter. Some gardeners like to prune on cloudy days, others swear that mornings are nicest to prune. I think while it is cooler out, any time of the day is fine. I hope this helps!🦋

[@badmotherhumper]

My Bb is huge the stems are 3" thick Ive been pruning in fall about eye level, If I trim down to 2 feetabove new growth with sparse foliage below. it will be ok?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Mike, the preferred time to prune butterfly bushes is in the Spring. Many gardeners lose their butterfly bushes because of Fall pruning as the plant just can't handle it well. Leaving the plant in place to just go to sleep and be dormant throughout the Winter season is best. I explain this in the video above starting at :19 -- you can find the Chapter on "When to prune...." in the Description Box above these comments to click directly to that section in this video. I hope this helps! 👍🦋

[@PetsNPatients]

How about trimmimg in August. Mine is huge!

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Ann Marie - You can trim a bit, but I wouldn’t do a full pruning just yet. Think of the trimming more like a “bigger” version of deadheading. (I have a video on deadheading as well.) When you deadhead, just take a bit more off from each stem, and do that here and there all over the shrub. I would do some of the shrub first, and then wait a few days before doing more, if it’s still really hot out…just to keep plant stress to a minimum. 👍 How tall is your butterfly bush? Did it grow this tall in one season? 🦋

[@dannyspitzer1267]

Hello, I usually prune them back in late March, early April. But when I prune them, the new buds of growth are much smaller, just tiny little things. Am I cutting them too early do you think? I'm on Long Island, basically the same climate as you....thanks

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Danny, you’re pruning them just fine. 👍 If gardeners are new to pruning butterfly bush, it’s easiest to wait until the growth is visible. I purposely waited to prune until the new growth would be really visible in this video to make sure gardeners could literally see how to prune, using the new growth as a guide. Pruning with new growth that is just budding out on the stems is fine, and with our warmer overall Winter this year, who knows: we may get that new growth beginning earlier! 🦋 I find that Mid-March is usually a safe time to prune, in general for flowering shrubs here in southern NJ. I hope this helps? 🙂

[@dannyspitzer1267]

@@GardenSanity Ok, great, that definitely helps....thanks for the clarification, I appreciate it and keep up the great content!

[@GardenSanity]

@@dannyspitzer1267 You're welcome Danny and I'm always happy to help! 🦋🙂

[@merryshort5276]

Do you recommend this hard pruning for a yellow (honeycomb) butterfly bush?

[@GardenSanity]

Yes, this variety also benefits from hard pruning in the Spring. 👍

[@cynthiamarangoni5218]

Hi! For the past 2 years I've had issues with budworms. How can I prevent or treat the plant? This year I plan on pruning it this spring. How early can I prune it?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Cynthia, Your best bet to prevent those budworms is to prune your butterfly bush in the Spring like I demonstrated in the video. Budworms are actually moth larvae, and many times those larvae are from eggs deposited on the plant in the Fall. Those eggs stay on the plant over the Winter season, but if you prune in Spring, and then remove all the stems - i.e. don’t put them in a compost pile if you have one - your butterfly bush should be in much better shape this year. Pruning will remove those eggs. I’d suggest pruning as the first step before trying to treat the plant, because there’s always a danger you might end up accidentally “treating” butterflies and bees that you don’t want to kill. As for when to prune, I’m not sure what gardening zone you’re in, but I usually prune in mid-Spring once I see the start of new growth on the plants. As butterfly bushes leaf out later than other plants, and depending on where you’re located, sometimes waiting until mid-June isn’t uncommon. It’s a matter of patience - which I know isn’t always easy - waiting for those new signs of growth. Then just follow the steps in my video above. I hope this helps! Please keep me posted on whether those budworms come back or not. 🦋🙂

[@cynthiamarangoni5218]

@@GardenSanity Hello! Thank you for getting back to me! I live in Southern California.

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome Cynthia! In your area, pruning in Spring, when you see some new buds, is just fine. Please keep me posted! 🦋

[@cardiologyacutecarenursepr9772]

I pruned my butterfly bushes in the Fall in not understanding how to properly prune they are not budding what should I do ?

[@GardenSanity]

No worries: Many plants are leafing out earlier and later because of the deep freeze(s) we experienced during the Winter. 🥶 Mother Nature is hard to figure out! Butterfly Bushes in particular are known to leaf out late in general, sometimes not until mid June depending on the growing zone. New growth also comes from the ground up, so you should have lots of new stems as the season warns up and kicks into Summer. It’s a study in patience! 😀 Keep me posted in about a month. 👍🦋

[@msdixie1]

Mine did well in its first year in my garden, but I realize I planted it too close to a lilac. Is it hard to move them? What’s the best time? It’s early Sept in northern IL.

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Dixie, You can still move your butterfly bush -- and I apologize for not replying sooner! It isn't hard to move them, especially since it's a newer plant in your garden -- the roots won't be as extensive to dig up. Fall is a great time to transplant plants and shrubs. The cooler temperatures mean the plants won't get as stressed from the "move" and you won't have to worry about the soil needing to be watered as often either. Put a bit of Bio-tone in the hole -- mixed into the soil at the bottom and sides of the hole you dig. That's all you need to get the roots off to getting established in their new home. Remember that in the Spring, all butterfly bushes are very slow to wake up. So don't think your shrub has died. You see in this video above that it was the end of April when I was pruning my butterfly bushes. They still had their leaves on from the previous year, but I after I cut them down hard, they looked like dead branches. 👍I hope this helps!

[@bobbie1320]

i just came acrossed ur excellant video. iI live in Connecticut & i too have a butterfly bush that i planted summer of 2022 & needs to be moved further back from where i planted it. Can it be moved to another spot sometime this month that's if it made it thru the winter unfortunately i pruned my back before winter so i was able to cover it with a plastic 5 gallon pail. It's in a garden where it is a very windy north exposure.

[@GardenSanity]

@@bobbie1320 Hello Bobbie, yes you can move your butterfly bush now. In fact, Spring is an excellent time to move shrubs before the high heat of Summer kicks in. Also, I've heard from many gardeners that their butterfly bushes are starting to leaf out later than usual this year because of the various deep freezes everyone seemed to have. So just keep that in mind if you're wondering whether or not your shrub survived. In some northern areas, butterfly bushes might not leaf out until mid-June sometimes. 🦋

[@dorothyczygmunt5232]

In the spring I cut my bush back as you suggested. Now its June and the bush did come back but shooting tall should I cut it back a bit again to avoid it breaking in the wind ? Appreciate your input

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Dorothy, that's amazing that the butterfly bush is shooting up tall! Yes, you can definitely trim the tall branches back. It won't harm the bush. What variety do you have? Some varieties can grow very tall in just one season, which is why I'm curious.

[@dorothyczygmunt5232]

@@GardenSanity Good afternoon 😊 it's called 'Miss Molly' its really beautiful. Just recently we have had a good bit of heavy rain and it got a few leaves that had brown spot. I removed those leaves and put some Neem oil on a few days later. What do you suggest? Many thanks for your reply. Have a good rest of your week.

[@Anonymously4051]

Can the butterfly bush be easily propagated from cuttings?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Rachel, Yes, you can propagate a butterfly bush from cuttings. You can take a cutting that is at least 6 inches long (or more) and remove the lower third of leaves on that stem. Make sure that stem is a soft green stem and not a woody (i.e. literally wood-looking) stem. Dip the bottom third into rooting hormone and gently insert the cutting into a pot with a good potting soil mix. Make sure the pot has drainage holes at the bottom. Keep the soil moist but not wet, and know that it usually takes up to six weeks until a butterfly cutting begins to form roots. I've not personally tried this yet, but if I was doing this, I'd leave it in the pot for awhile to make sure the roots really were established before removing it to plant into my garden. So if I took a cutting now, I'd probably wait to plant it until the Fall at the earliest. Another idea is to place a cutting in a larger container and keep the resulting plant in that container to enjoy as a potted butterfly bush for awhile. I hope this helps! Keep me posted if you try this! 🦋 👍 (And thanks for a future video idea for me to do!) 😀

[@willaerley7140]

So, are butterfly bushes invasive or not? I’ve heard different things.

[@GardenSanity]

And the answer is, “It depends.” 🙃🙂 Older varieties that spread seeds everywhere have indeed become invasive. Some states even ban selling butterfly bushes. However, newer varieties have been developed that are seedless or produce very little seed so aren’t considered invasive. Does this clear things up? 😀🦋

[@greentea2451]

I moved in a new house and the butterfly bush needs pruned but it is moving toward end of June and in Florida so thinking I should grin and bear it until early spring next year probably?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Greentea -- and congrats on your new house! 😀 I agree with you, as pruning does stress the plant a bit during the high heat of Summer. What you can do is deadhead, which I also have a video about. And when you deadhead, you can take just a bit more "off" of the shrub here and there -- not much at all. That will give you at least some cutting back without stressing the plant. How tall is the butterfly bush? And do you know what variety it is by any chance? (Many homeowners never leave this helpful info for the next occupants, unfortunately...) 🦋

[@greentea2451]

@@GardenSanity It is about 2 1/2 ft tall on the small side, kind of overshadowed by tall Mexican Petunias on each side. Maybe it is a Dwarf, possibly? The former owner left instructions and names for all plants but she cut off the name of this variety unfortunately. I did deadhead and took off a few inches on the overlong branches and held my breath. By the end of the day, the bush looked so much perkier so I will leave it until next fall. Thanks so much, love this channel!!

[@GardenSanity]

@@greentea2451 First off, I'm so happy that the previous owner left you plant names and information -- that is fantastic! 👍 Secondly, it does sound like you do indeed have a dwarf variety...like you said apparently being "dwarfed" by the Mexican Petunias. I'm glad the butterfly bush perked up with a bit of pruning! When it comes time to prune, you can also prune back the Mexican Petunias as well -- and they can be pruned down to the ground, for a fresh regrowth and to keep them from taking over your butterfly bush. I recently said (in another video about two plants growing into each other), "They can be friends, just not THOSE kind of friends!" 🤣 It doesn't harm them growing into each other, but keeping a bit of space in between should help. And you can clip some of the stems of the Mexican Petunias back from the butterfly bush during the season if needed. I hope all of this helps! Keep me posted! 🦋