Buddleja

Moved house last year, lots of plants too big for thier place and too crowded, but a particular problem is the Buddleja, its like a small tree, thick 3' + trunk, huge top heavy crown, overall about 7' tall, I pruned it last year but it still got so heavy that we had to tie it to the concrete fency post as it was in danger of falling over. Can I cut into the main stem to shorten it to about 2', will any new growth come from this or will it die

i had the same problem,so i got so fed up with it i chopped the trunk to about 2ft off the ground thinking i had killed it,it looked a bit naff for a while then lo and behold it started shooting like crazy and now its bigger than ever in just a year its twice the size so i also dont know what to do this year good luck

Thank you , I hope mine does just as well as yours

Buddleias should be pruned in the Spring.

Chica, Congratulations on being brave - it worked didn't it?

Now,  if I were you I'd reduce the new growth by a half to two-thirds at the moment, to prevent the roots being damaged by wind-rock in the autumn and winter winds.  Then in the spring (late Feb, early March) cut everything back to a bud close to where you cut it back before.  Completely remove any spindly growth.

When it starts to regrow a handful of rose fertiliser scattered around will be good for it. 

thank you dovefromabove,will do as you say its so nice that there is always someone on this foreham that know things that i dont

Thank you so much, this forum is a great place to get info.

Thank you - I've been gardening a long time and it's nice to share it 

Ours has been damaged by rain and wind and is badly bent down. CAn I prune it now as it looks a mess and is harming other plants ?

linzbfc wrote (see)

Ours has been damaged by rain and wind and is badly bent down. CAn I prune it now as it looks a mess and is harming other plants ?

 

Yesterday-on another thread I said prune buddleia now as it has never harmed the ones I have done at this time-another poster-Paul above- says Spring--but it will do no harm in my opinion to cut it back now especially if it is damaging other plants

Buddleias are hard to kill-that is why you see them growing in all sorts of places

Ernie, You and I must have been gardening for so many years we know that things are not always set in stone. Ideally we prune buddleia in early Spring but if they are out of control and damaged other neighbouring plants, they should still survive a November prune. As you say, we see them growing in all sorts of places like railway embankments and even out of brick walls and gutters. Probably what is worse is being too timid with the pruning. Light pruning just caused a bushy top growth and a bare trunk.

My dad used to prune his buddleja every year almost down to the ground (about a foot) in early November, and it looked amazing every year. I grew my own from seed this year and planted out in september, they are looking good, but will trim one of them down in March, Monty says to 2 leaf buds from the bottom (in case one gets damaged). 

I leave the seed heads for the birds, but the plant can get damaged by wind rock in the winter.  I prune on a dry (Ha Ha) mid winters day and a bit more in the spring.  I believe the book would say (as above) prune half to two thirds early winter to stop wind rock, prune back more in early spring. they are very tough, linzbfc you can get away with a great deal if they are a mess.  chica if they come back too strong take cuttings which take well and replant.  As we know fantastic or wildlife and a great plant that needs little attention other than a good prune every year.

I have  a number of buddlias and I cut some back servere and others a gentle chop,the only thing is if you chop to severe they will die,I have lost a few that way.they are of course great at seeding themselves and from  a seedling they grow quickly or even a stick cutting,for the best effect with out taking over the border is to keep it as a bush.If you have very old lanky ones ,get rid of and start with seedlings or cuttings.They are so lovely giving butterflies,bees and all manner of insects the nectar they need and hurs of watching for you,they come in many diffeent colours ,mine,deep purple,lilac,yellow(double) and I long for a white one.

I live on the edge of Dardmoor, very high, windy and bleak at times, and have never killed one either, I saw it right down in March, but have taken them right down in October. they dont die.

Lyn wrote (see)

I live on the edge of Dardmoor, very high, windy and bleak at times, and have never killed one either, I saw it right down in March, but have taken them right down in October. they dont die.

on the edge of Dartmoor myself and never killed one either - yet!