When should I prune butterfly bushes in zone 6b?
-
Douglas Hunt on Jan 20, 2012You should prune them in late winter/early spring, just before they start leafing out, Diane. I suspect this would be late February or early March for you. And don't be timid in cutting them back. Pruning them to about a foot high will result in vigorous growth and lots of those wonderful blossoms.Helpful Reply
-
-
Ricardo B on Jan 20, 2012My opinion: Do it anytime, if your willing NOT to prune too severely at any one time and you don't mind losing out of having attractive blooms until the next season. Otherwise, wait until after it finishes blooming and then don't prune off more than 1/3 of it's mass. Here's an interesting experience I had once... At my previous home in Albuquerque, I was forced to transplant an overgrown butterfly bush/tree to make room for expanding my concrete patio. I took as much of the extensive roots as possible and then pruned it severely. It not only survived the move and the pruning but it thrived! The astounding thing is that it was done in July! Sometimes you never know what surprises nature has in store regardless of the mistakes we make of nature's gifts.Helpful Reply
-
Related Discussions
Old desk with hard rubber top needs help
I have a very old desk that is in great condition except for the top. It is that old, hard rubber and it has a lot of dings and gashes (for lack of a better term). I ... See more
Do colors have to coordinate for bedroom and bathroom?
I recently got overzealous and bought a shower curtain, towels and rug for my bathroom in a totally different color than I planned on doing in the actual bedroom. Doe... See more
Should I remove plaster and lathe or can I just remove plaster?
I have an 1882 Balloon construction house that has some pretty extensive plaster falling off of the lath. I know that the lath actually adds to the wall stability, a... See more
How do I remove sand paint from the walls of a small bathroom?
Thought it was clever and a great look until I realized that if you fall against the wall it would scrape worse than a fall on cement. My husband is elderly and the l... See more
Has anyone had any luck removing artillery fungus?
Please provide personal success stories on how to get rid of fungus in mulch... not links because I have googled and watched others and tried. My daughter had a load ... See more
Which do you prefer: distressed wood or natural wood?
When it comes to choosing wood for your home decor, the finish can make all the difference in achieving the look and feel you want. Distressed wood, with its rugged c... See more
Repurpose glass crackle globes
I have several old solar lights with the glass crackle globe on top. The solar part doesn't work anymore. What could I do with the glass globes?