Kitchen Garden Forum

This isn't seeding and planting but I wasn't sure where to post.

My four year old Buddleia davidii has grown absolutely enormous this year, despite being cut back in the spring. It is against a 5' fence and is at least 5' taller than the fence. The strong winds are seriously rocking it this morning, blowing it away from the fence and although it is tied back, I'm worried that the roots will be damaged and that I'll lose it...it's a glorious shrub when in flower.

Should I risk cutting it back now? I thought maybe the top four feet? I know it shouldn't be cut back until March and Buddleia is pretty hardy but I'm undecided. I could lose it either way.
Cheers.

Hi there, I would cut it back to the top of the fence even though it is not the right time. You can always prune it properly in spring. I did this some years back and it didn't suffer. I didnt know any better at that time, as it was all new to me.
Jane

Dear Elaine, i always cut at least a third off them at this time of the year, and then prune them properly in the Spring.

I'd cut it back too - buddleias are tough cookies

Thanks very much friends. I will cut it back.
I know they are toughies..you only have to see how many are growing in gutters and cracks in derelict buildings!

Dear Elaine, don't cut some off for each of us, or you will have nothing left.

I know I am a bit late with the answer, but just to add: I always cut the tops of the buddleias in autumn because otherwise they seed themselves all over the place. And as I use the buddleia cuttings as peasticks in spring, I want to avoid that.

Monika wrote: And as I use the buddleia cuttings as peasticks in spring, I want to avoid that.

I once did this and many of them rooted!!!

I think you'll be pretty safe to cut them back. As others have said, this is a very hardy species and virtually indestructible. I was interested in the comment that they've been used as pea sticks and taken root. I have often cut back my neighbour's elderberry trees which overhang our fence. I've left the sticks on the ground for ages before occasionally using them as pea supports and they too have rooted. Some of these "wild" trees & bushes are very resilient!

I'd agree with everything said about tough old Buddleia. I'd just add to the comments about pea sticks rooting that I had the same experience with the red-stemmed dogwood. I cut all the stems back hard before the leaf buds opened early in the year, and put all the stems on my shredding pile. Several weeks later I decided I could use them as pea sticks; sure enough, quit a high percentage rooted. Talk about hanging on in there...

The plant kingdom can obviously teach us a few lessons about the powers of resurrection. If medical science could fathom the secrets of this for humans they'd be on to a winner (but I'm not sure the planet would be!)

Thanks for all your advice everyone. The Buddleia has now been cut back to the level of the fence, straightened up and heeled in. It had moved around quite a bit with that gale on Sunday and the soil is rather wet too. I will keep my eye on it to make sure it stays secure.

As for unintended cuttings rooting, I have three in pots from this years prunings, which sprouted in the heap I left them in. They're making good sturdy plants too!