How to Trim a Butterfly Bush

Butterfly bushes, also known as buddleia, can be beautiful and almost come alive as butterflies visit and feed. They are hardy bushes and grow very quickly. Butterfly bushes require regular trimming to keep them from growing out of control.

Things You'll Need

• Bypass Pruning Tool

Instructions

1. Remove any branches that appear to be dead in the spring. Depending on your climate, your bush might only flower on new wood, so getting rid of any dead branches will help.

2. Trim the bush to your desired shape in the spring.

3. Remove spent flowers (this process is called deadheading) regularly throughout July, August and September. This should help your butterfly bush continue to flower through the season.

4. Trim the bush back in November. Where you live and how much snow you get factors into how much you should trim the bush back. If you don't get a lot of snow, you can cut it as low as 1 foot high. But, if you tend to get a fair amount of snow, or more, you should probably trim it to about 3 or 4 feet high. After trimming it back, mulch it.

Tips & Warnings

• Use whatever pruning tools are most comfortable for you. However, for the health of the bush, you should consider using a pruning tool with bypass action for the finishing cuts. A bypass pruner is far less likely to crush the branches.

• Your butterfly bush might look dead in the spring, but give it a chance. This will be a good time to remove dead, woody branches. Soon you will see new growth, followed by blooms in the summer.

• Don't be afraid to trim it back to 3 feet high, or even 1 foot high. It will grow back. Before you know it, you could have a 6-to-8 foot bush on your hands.