I have an overgrown butterfly bush. When do I trim back & how much?
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Gyp6290527
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Early spring or anytime in the fall would be appropriate for pruning. That is also the best time for shaping, propagating new bushes, and transplanting. You can trim back to the main stem and a few branches, but if it still has plenty of room to grow, you can just trim off dead branches and anything that distorts the shape you want. Best wishes 😇
The flowers grow on the ends of the stems. Please trim in the fall or early spring. I prefer the very early spring before it begins to leaf out as I believe leaving the long stems on a shrub helps protect the heart of the plant from freeze. Remember, the look of a butterfly bush is naturally messy. I have two lavender colored butterfly bushes.
In the early Fall, when everything else is dying down for the colder months ahead, is the time to 'trim back' your butterfly bush. I never had to 'cut' off the brittle branches, but would instead break them with my hands -down to a better height. Maybe you will take out more..
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/butterfly-bush/butterfly-bush-pruning-how-to-prune-a-butterfly-bush.htm
Trim after it flowers and do no more than 1/3 of the plant in any year