How to Prune a Buddleia

Buddleia is one of the most beautiful of the butterfly bushes. With over 100 different varieties of the bush, there could be some confusion as how to properly prune the buddleia. However, there are some basic principles that are true no matter what variety you have.

Items you'll need:

• Pruning shears or loppers


• Fertilizer


• Watering can or hose

Step 1: Pruning your buddleia in early spring is best. Take your pruning shears and cut all the way down to about one foot off of the ground. If your buddleia has thicker stems, use loppers to take off the growth. Although this much cutting may seem extreme, it is necessary for proper growth. Plants that are not pruned to this level will not grow properly for the next year, if not longer.

Step 2: Lay down fertilizer around the bed of the buddleia. This will help encourage quick recovery after the pruning. After laying down the fertilizer, water the bed to make sure the fertilizer goes into the soil.

Step 3: Prune the buddleia during the summer as flowers begin to fade. When a flower is spent, deadhead the flower down to the next area of growth. Be cautious not to cut off buds that are trying to grow on the stem that you deadhead.

Step 4: Cut the buddleia down by about a quarter in the late fall. This will help prevent damage during the harsh winter months. In the spring, your buddleia should be ready for pruning once again.