How to Trim a Butterfly Bush in the Fall
Butterfly bushes, as their name implies, are favorites for butterflies, bees and hummingbirds who enjoy the plant's nectar. Gardeners use this bush in landscapes for their colorful blossoms and impressive heights of more than 10 feet. To keep your butterfly bush healthy, yearly pruning must be employed to remove damaged and diseased portions of the plant. If your butterfly bush goes without pruning, it could be exposed to a potentially fatal fungal disease. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Wash bypass shears in a sterilizing solution of 70 percent denatured alcohol and 30 percent water. Wipe off the pruning tool with a clean towel.
-
2
Remove any areas of the plant that look discolored or diseased. Look for powdery mildew on leaves, stunted blossoms, browning leaves and distorted branches. Make 45-degree, downward cuts near the branch collar to remove entire branches. Remove branches on a dry day in the fall. Pruning on rainy days can encourage fungal disease.
-
-
3
Trim off branches that are rubbing together, on the ground or growing out of the designated growing area.
-
4
Prune again in the early spring. Cut off all old growth from the canes, using loppers. Butterfly bushes bloom only on new growth, so you may find yourself cutting the bush a few inches from the ground.
-
5
Apply a 1/8-inch layer of compost 3 inches from the base of the plant out to 6 inches. Work the compost into the soil, and water the area thoroughly.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch around the tree to the drip line after pruning. This will lock in moisture for the butterfly bush.
Monitor your butterfly bush to make sure it does not grow to compete with other species of native plants. The butterfly bush is considered an invasive plant in many areas of the country.
