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| The first year, my butterfly bush was doing well. I cut it down about 3 ft tall during winter time. Then, it grew GREAT during the following spring and summer. This past winter (2nd year), I cut some branches down, yet I did not cut all of them down to 3 ft tall. I could only manage cutting the branches I could handle cutting. The center ones were so thick and sturdy that i couldn't cut them at all. I cut them down to the places where they got really thick, and I couldn't cut down any more. Still some center ones were still about some inches over 5 ft.
I don't know if not cutting the bush down to 3 ft caused the bush to slowly grow. Last year this time, the bush was full of leaves and flowers upto 7 ft tall. Now, the bush is only having some thinly leaves in the center about 4 ft tall. The bush still looks/SEEMS healthy. What's wrong with it? Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by butterfly4u 8 (My Page) on Mon, Jun 14, 10 at 23:47
| Butterfly bushes bloom on NEW growth. You will have blooms on the areas that you had cut down. Can you tell the blooms are on cut down pieces? Next spring, go to a home center store and buy yourself something that you can handle to cut the bush down like you did before. Don't be afraid of cutting it down too much, it will spring back good as new when the warm weather hits. Those bushes are amazing after you cut them all the way down. |
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| I would recommend a nice little pruning saw. Very easy to use and far better than struggling with secateurs on branches which are too thick. I have a fixed blade one and also a really handy folding one which weighs nothing and cuts beautifully. And then cut your Buddleja way down to a foot or so max. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Something like this.
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- Posted by dan_staley 5b/S 2b AHS 6-7 (My Page) on Tue, Jun 15, 10 at 8:48
| It is unclear what the OP used to cut the BB down. But it is best to cut them down every year, else the next year is sparse growth. And I agree with flora on the small pruning saw being a necessity in every tool shed. Dan |
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| Thank you for all your advice. Not pruning well was what I suspect for the problem. I was using a pair of one-hand-held pruning scissors and a pair of BIG two-hand-held pruning scissors. The former are a very good and strong pair of scissors, yet they don't cut thick branches. Although the later were big, they don't have the strength or the sharpness like the small one do. |
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