Butterfly Bush Info

[tartandtiny]

When is the best time to:

1. Plant a new bush?
2. Trim back an existing bush?
3. Prune - is it necessary?

[windrider]

I was always taught that the best time to plant shrubs and trees was spring and fall - but I tend to plant them anytime.

Edited due to being quick on the submit trigger..

I tend to trim in late winter, before the sap runs in the maple trees here (SE Connecticut), and I like to trim the butterfly bush back to a foot or so above ground (thought last year I didn't)

[tartandtiny]

Last year was the first year I didn't cut back my butterfly bush in the fall and it didnt produce as many blooms this year. The bush is 5 years old though so I am not sure if it is due to age or just not cutting it back.

I will plan to trim it to 1' tall this year. When do you think I should trim it? I am in central CT.

[Mona Miller]

http://butterflybushes.com/frequently_a ... .htm#where
"When and how should I prune my butterfly bush ?
We suggest cutting butterfly bushes back to about 4 feet high for the winter (so that heavy winter snow won't crush the bush to the ground). And don't cut the butterfly bushes back too early; November is our recommendation.
Depending upon the severity of winter, your butterfly bush may appear dead in spring. Don't despair. Even when a butterfly bush doesn't develop leaf buds on the previous year's branches, it will usually sprout new growth from the root system. Be patient though. It might be late May before your butterfly bush shows signs of new growth.
In early June, cut off any branches which died over the winter. This is also a good time to trim the butterfly bush to the shape you'd like it to be.
During its blooming period, usually mid July through September, you might deadhead (remove spend flowers) every two weeks or so. This assures that the bush will put its energy into producing more flowers rather than seed."

[tartandtiny]

Thank you both. This is just what I needed to know.

[Wyvern]

In the fall, we trim the bushes slightly (dead head the ends essentially where all the flowers were). We not actually cut the bushes back to the main trunk until after winter (i.e. late march/early april). We tend to wait until we see new growth start to sprout and then know it's ok to cut back the bush... with the fresh cut ends you can get new strong stems to grow easier. if you cut back before the start of winter, then those ends dry out and can potentially rot through the winter months and you don't get the same quality of growth in the spring.

I usually prefer to plant new plants in the spring, but these bushes can be planted anytime during spring, summer or early fall.. the main thing when planting is just making sure they get plenty of water while establishing their root system.

You can greatly extend the flowering season of the bushes if you dead head all spent flower heads. Depending on the size of your bush or numbers of bushes that can be an undertaking. I usually go out with scissors once a week or every other week and just snip snip snip when I get bored.