I have a nice third year buddleia ... first two years, blooms were average, this year the blooms were extra attractive: butterflies and hummingbirds galore. So the question is ....
... should I deadhead the bush or not? If so, how far down? Anyone have any input on this?
Thanks
W Jones
Frisco, Texas
Sub, I've ready many times that deadheading is especially good for BB; however, I find it difficult to do because, to me, the pre-bloom spikes look pretty similar to the spent ones, so I err on the side of caution and only deadhead blooms that are very crispy brown. I'm sure that if I were more aggressive with the process I would get more blooms.
Sublimaze, here's a site that answers your questions.
http://www.floridata.com/ref/b/budd_dav.cfm
I had several in Chicago and deadheaded them
regularly during the summer. When I was too busy
to do so, there were fewer blooms. They grow back
from the ground as they bloom on NEW wood, so
lots of folks would just cut them all the way down to
the ground in November. I used to prune them to
just below the privacy fence so that the winter winds
wouldn't damage them, and they still got to be
at least 8 feet high. Deadhead away, and don't be
shy about it. You'll only get more and bigger blooms.
I deadhead as much as I can reach, when I have time to do it. I always cut mine back to about 12-18" in the winter. They do grow back just as full and pretty.
