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Tue, Mar 23, 10 at 10:01
| I prune my Buddleia and Caryopteris down every year to about 8 inches or so. But now that these specimens are getting older and woodier, I worry that these old stems will not put out new growth as well as they have in the past. Do they ever need pruning closer to the ground? (I did prune one down to the ground because of snow damage, so we'll see.) It doesn't seem like they make any new stems. Maybe I shouldn't have pruned so low. Any suggestions?
Buddleia example
Caryopteris example
Thanks
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Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by perennialfan273 zone 5 (My Page) on Tue, Mar 23, 10 at 14:46
| Caryopteris and buddleia bloom on new wood, not the old wood. This means that if you don't like the way that the plant looks now, you can cut it down to the ground completely and it will bloom on the new wood that it develops this year. You don't really NEED to cut them down to the ground, but if you want the plant to get more flower buds, then I recommend doing so. The best time to do this is in early spring. |
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| I am always surprised at the way the Buddleia come back after drastic pruning. There seems to be bud eyes everywhere. Kinda like an azalea. My older Butterfly Bushes will be cut low until they prove they can't grow from the old wood. At that point I will allow a bit more to remain just to generate new buds. I don't notice many new canes emerging from the roots. |
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- Posted by maureeninmd z6 MD (My Page) on Tue, Mar 23, 10 at 15:24
| Harryshoe - I am more worried about the caryopteris, as last year they took forever to branch out and did not look as good as they had before. I was pruning my roses too (I recognize you from the rose forums) - We know our roses will shoot new canes, and we cut a few old canes to the ground. But you never see any new growth from the ground on these shrubs. I was wondering as this base gets woodier and woodier would they just "peter out". I wonder if anyone prunes them differently, maybe not so low. I know not to prune lavender this hard. I really enjoy Spring pruning but maybe have been thinking too hard! |
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| Last year was an extremely cold and late spring in the east and a cold, cold summer. Everything was late. |
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