It can take several weeks into spring for new growth to show up – be patient and resist the urge to cut them back too early. But do prune your butterfly bush. Even dwarf varieties like our Lo & Behold® series still need pruning – you’ll just be cutting back less than you would on a variety that reaches 8′ tall.
How do you prune a dwarf butterfly bush?
Prune back the undamaged branches to within 12 inches of the soil. The butterfly bush will grow back vigorously and produce flowers from summer through frost. To keep the flowers coming until winter arrives, deadhead regularly. Cut the flower stalk just below the blossoms to encourage new flower production.
Should butterfly bushes be cut back every year?
Butterfly bushes die back each winter. When spring comes they begin to grow back and bloom on new wood. You don’t have to prune your butterfly bushes every year, but its common practice to cut butterfly bushes very low each winter to encourage lots of new flowers next spring on the new growth.
Can I cut back butterfly bush in summer?
While pruning is not absolutely necessary, butterfly bushes tend to bloom better and keep a better shape if pruned hard each spring. They can also be pruned in summer to encourage new blooms, or just to tame untidy growth.
How much do you trim a butterfly bush?
For non-dwarf butterfly bushes, cut back to 12 to 24 inches and remove any dead or broken branches. (Or cut back nearly to the ground. Butterfly bushes will still resprout and bloom!) For dwarf types such as ‘Blue Chip’ and ‘Buzz’, cut back by at least half the height in early spring.
How do you trim a butterfly bush?
How to Prune Butterfly Bushes
- Step 1 – Look for new growth. In late winter or early spring, butterfly bush leaves begin appearing low on the plant.
- Step 2 – Cut just above new leaves.
- Step 3 – Check your variety.
- Step 4 – Prune out dead stems.
- Step 5 – Walk around the plant.
Do you deadhead butterfly bushes?
Caring for Butterfly Bushes Remove spent flower spikes to encourage new shoots and flower buds. In addition, it is important to deadhead the flowers just as they start to wither so that this invasive plant doesn’t spread volunteer seeds. The bush should bloom abundantly even in its first year.
Can you prune butterfly bush in summer?
How do you prune a dwarf pine tree?
Mix one part bleach with three parts water in a bucket. Place pruning clippers in the solution and allow them to soak for at least five minutes. Rinse tools with clean water and allow them to air dry. Disinfecting tools before pruning helps reduce the spread of bacteria to your dwarf pine. Check your dwarf pine for new growth each spring.
Should you prune butterfly bushes in the summer?
Those choosing to prune during the spring, or even summer, need not worry too much, as these shrubs can handle stress well and will come back stronger than ever. In fact, butterfly bushes grow quickly and respond well to pruning. New growth and blooms should reappear within weeks of pruning butterfly bushes.
How do you get rid of fungus on dwarf pine trees?
Mix one part bleach with three parts water in a bucket. Place pruning clippers in the solution and allow them to soak for at least five minutes. Rinse tools with clean water and allow them to air dry. Disinfecting tools before pruning helps reduce the spread of bacteria to your dwarf pine.
How tall do dwarf butterfly bushes grow?
The dwarf butterfly bush cultivars generally stay under 5 feet tall and equally wide. K-State Research and Extension reports that the newer dwarf cultivars are compact mounds of flowers and foliage as well as sterile and thus noninvasive.
