Summer lilacs inspire with their rich abundance of flowers, which attract numerous insects and butterflies. Easy to care for and with a growth height of two to three meters, Buddleja sets attractive accents in the summer garden. However, there are a few things to consider when pruning the flowering shrub, which we would like to go into more detail in this article.

Buddleja is very tolerant of pruning

Cut out faded flowers in late summer

The shrub flowers continuously from July to October and during this time it keeps producing new flowers while other umbels are still dying.

Since the summer lilac forms a very large number of seeds and willingly reproduces itself, it is advisable to regularly cut off the flowered panicles above the nearest leaf node. Also in autumn you should carefully clean out everything that has faded.

The actual pruning takes place in late winter

Like almost all summer-flowering shrubs, Buddleja develops the flowers on new wood. By cutting back in late winter, the abundance of flowers that appear on the annual shoots can be significantly increased.

Please note the bird breeding season from March 1st to September 30th and grab your scissors before then.

When cutting back, you have two options:

  • taper cut: You can put Buddleja back on the stick without hesitation. Leave about a foot and cut off any branches above a bud.
  • pruning: Shorten flowering shoots from the previous year by up to two thirds. Cut back shoots that are less beneficial for the shape by at least three quarters. In addition, you can thin out the entire bush.

The right cutting tool

As a rule, good pruning shears are sufficient to shorten the summer lilac. Since the wood of this bush is hard and brittle, you should not skimp on the quality of the tools.

Bypass scissors are preferable, in which the curved blade slides past the opposite cutting edge when compressed. Thoroughly clean the tool each time to prevent pathogens from entering the buddleia through the open wound.

tips

Buddleia buddleia, which you can recognize by the overhanging branches with dense clusters of flowers, require a slightly different pruning. They are carefully thinned out in late winter. From the fourth year, cut out some of the old shoots close to the ground.

Category:

Herbs