Butterfly lilacs can easily become overgrown and unsightly if not pruned regularly. When to cut butterfly lilac and how do you do it? Here's everything you need to know to properly prune your butterfly bush.
Gardeners know the importance of pruning shrubs. This process not only beautifies the appearance of these plants but also repairs damaged areas and prevents them from growing out of control. The good news is that pruning butterfly lilac is fairly easy. Just a bit of preparation and knowledge is required and even beginners can complete the task successfully.
Why cut the bush?
Pruning makes the butterfly bush look better. Butterfly lilacs can grow quite tall and wide and you can control the size by pruning them. If a shrub grows too large, the roots may not be strong enough and cannot support it.
Butterfly bush can be invasive because its seeds spread very quickly. Pruning in late summer or fall, removing the flowers, can keep the spread at bay.
Pruning also serves to increase flower production and extend the blooming period of your butterfly bush. These are some of the main reasons why you shouldCut butterfly bushshould.
It is common for flowering shrubs to be pruned in the fall. Butterfly bush can also be trimmed in late winter or early spring before growth begins.
You can prune butterfly lilac in the fall, but it is important not to prune too late because if plants experience a cold frost, the amount of water in the cells can freeze.
Read here:Butterfly lilac: When to transplant and which location is best for it?
How much can you remove from a butterfly bush
It is recommended to cut the shrub back to a height of between 35 and 70 centimeters for good shape. You can also cut a butterfly bush back to the ground if you want to limit its size.
If you have an old and large butterfly lilac, it is better not to cut it back all at once, but to cut it back to about two to three meters high, and cut back further next year if necessary.
Do not allow your shrub to overgrow and overgrow, as you will have difficulty keeping the plant in good shape later. The butterfly bush will benefit from an annual topiary. Not only because the plant will grow strong and healthy, but also because it will look pretty and neat.
If you remove too much of your plant, don't worry because butterfly lilacs grow very quickly and you can't really go wrong. Many varieties can grow more than two meters tall in a year. Just be careful not to prune during the growing season so you don't affect the plant's development.
How to make the cut correctly
These shrubs are extremely resilient and adaptable. However, there are a few things to consider when youPruning your shrub. First, you should cut dead or damaged stems back to the ground or at the point of breakage to keep the plant strong and healthy.
Use sharp pruning shears and make a clean, slanted cut just above where the leaves appear. Also trim back some side branches to improve the overall shape of the shrub.
Make sure that everything looks even after cutting and that there are no long stems sticking out. So use pruning to shape the shrub so that you like its appearance.
Cut off spent flowers in autumn
Don't forget to remove the spent flowers to keep your butterfly lilac blooming all season long. The flowers produce a lot of seeds and can become invasive, which is another reason why you should remove them.
Removing the flower heads from butterfly bushes is very easy:Just cut the flowerfrom the branch, as close as possible to the next flower cluster. This leaves a small wound that heals easily and does not leave any unsightly gaps in the bush.
What care after pruning?
Keep in mind that once trimmed, the butterfly bush will need some care to survive the winter. An additional layer of mulch around the shrub may be necessary to insulate it, especially in colder climates. In warmer areas this is not necessary except for aesthetic reasons as the butterfly bush tends to stay green.
Do not fertilize your shrub after autumn pruning because the plant will soon go dormant. Check the butterfly bush for pests and diseases and if you find any problems, remove the affected parts of the plant to avoid infesting and damaging the entire perennial.
Also interesting:Cutting butterfly lilac in spring with instructions
