pruning butterfly bushes

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blackthumbRose Chattanooga, TN Aug 20, 2009

Should I really cut my butterfly bush all the way to the ground in the fall? if so, should I wait until it frosts or what? when is the best time to do it??

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bugme Barnesville, GA(Zone 7b) Aug 20, 2009

We usually cut it back in early spring to about 18".

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pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) Aug 20, 2009

Early spring here as well and also to 18".

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blackthumbRose Chattanooga, TN Aug 20, 2009

hmmm mine aren't 18" tall yet. I've been in an apartment all summer so they were in a pot on a covered patio. I had them as near the edge as possible to get all the sun they could. The result is that they are growing out rather than up and only on one side. I'll be in a house next week and I'm going to plant them asap before it gets cold. do you think I should just leave them or prune them back pretty heavy in the spring?

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pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) Aug 21, 2009

Prune them back in early spring. They flower best on new growth.

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Aug 21, 2009

If you are putting them in the ground, you do not want to prune them now as that can encourage new growth that may leave the plant susceptible to cold damage over the winter.

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blackthumbRose Chattanooga, TN Aug 24, 2009

thanks a lot! I will prune them in early spring :)

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