As of: February 16, 2024, 1:44 p.m
By: Ines Alms
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You can cut back the buddleia from February.
With the right pruning technique, the popular butterfly magnet produces numerous flowers.
The buddleia or butterfly bush blooms from around June on the annual wood, i.e. the branches that form over the course of spring.
Early spring is therefore a good time for pruning, as you do not endanger the formation of flowers.
You don't have to be squeamish when using the scissors: the vigorous pruning of the insensitive buddleia ensures that the tree then sprouts even more vigorously and produces many flowers.
If you cut too late, the flowering will start later.
A few freshly sprouted or existing green leaves are no obstacle to pruning.
The harder the pruning, the more flowers the buddleia will produce
In late winter, the buddleia (Buddleja davidii) tolerates severe pruning at around knee height very well.
© Pond5 Images/Imago
To prune the buddleia (Buddleja davidii) and its closely related varieties, choose a frost-free, dry day from around mid-February to early April.
At least there should be no more threat of severe frosts.
On humid days, plants are more susceptible to fungal infections.
If you prune at a later date, make sure that no birds are nesting in the bush.
The cutting tool should be disinfected so that no diseases are transferred from other plants or from the previous year.
When cutting back, proceed as follows:
Dead branches that grow close together and point inwards are cut off at an angle right at the base
.
Also remove weak, thin side branches.
The flower shoots from the previous year are cut back directly above a leaf base or pair so that two to three opposite eyes remain.
Overall, the lilac can be shortened to a height of around 30 centimeters.
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These pruning rules do not apply to the alternate-leaved buddleia (Buddleja alternifolia), which would be deprived of its flowers.
As a rule, only the spent inflorescences are cut off every year.
Only when it gets too big or becomes bald is it cut back more severely.