{"id":998,"date":"2026-03-19T18:47:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T16:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/?p=998"},"modified":"2026-03-19T18:47:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T16:47:10","slug":"cut-your-buddleia-back-now-or-it-could-turn-to-a-twiggy-mess","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/?p=998","title":{"rendered":"Cut your buddleia back now, or it could turn to a twiggy mess"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pruning Buddleja davidii<\/em> is essential if you want to keep it looking its best. If you don’t prune your buddleia it can become tatty and overgrown, developing a twiggy tangle of bare stems, with the flowers appearing way above head height.<\/p>\n

When to prune buddleia<\/h2>\n

Hard prune your buddleia<\/a> in early spring. The most vigorous varieties will still grow to 3m tall and 2m across by summer, while the smaller forms, such as \u2018Nanho Blue\u2019<\/a>, can be kept to less than 1.5m in height and spread. Alternatively, by pruning later in spring, you can ensure your buddleia flowers later in summer, to coincide with the emergence of the summer butterflies like the peacock and small tortoiseshell. Pruning as late as May can delay flowering until August, providing nectar when there’s little else available.<\/p>\n

Bear in mind that Buddleja alternifolia<\/a> and\u00a0Buddleja globos<\/em>a<\/a> bloom on stems made in the previous season, so cutting back in spring would remove the flower buds. Neither should be hard pruned \u2013 instead, cut out a selection of the oldest branches in midsummer.<\/p>\n

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Where to buy buddleia online<\/h2>\n