Pruning buddleia

[Jay22]

Is it too late to prune a buddleia do you think?

[veggiechicken]

Hi Jay. I've moved your post to a new thread of its own

Probably depends on the size of the buddleia and whether it has buds on it now.
I have a couple of thugs that bounce back after all sorts of chopping

[Jay22]

It's huge VC but don't want to kill it off!

[Martin H]

Assume it's davidii. I seem to remember that Geoff Hamilton used to deliberately chop his down in late spring to make it flower later so that he got lots of late summer flowers. So I would go for it. They are very tough and hard to kill (except with rich soil which makes them go a bit soft). They will re-grow from wherever you cut them, buds or no.

[Jay22]

Thanks Martin, will do it tomorrow.

[1Bee]

They are very tough and hard to kill (except with rich soil which makes them go a bit soft).

D'oh. I planted mine out with the hedge (which has lots of leaf-litter enriched soil under it) on one side and the manure heap on the other.

*facepalm*

[happyhumph]

Like Martin H said. Traditionally the advice used to be do it in April but doing it in may provides an important nectar source a bit later in the year.

[Compo72]

Didnt Monty on gardeners world the other week mention about a buddleia , personally id leave it for now , have a go early next year.
though nothing ventured nothing gained in giving it a cut now

i agree they do grow back quickly and bush up with pruning . i really hacked one back now its never looked healthier !