transplanting/regrowing

[terbear1225]

I have a butterfly bush my front yard that I really like but it has outgrown it's location. any advice on replanting it or getting a cutting from it to grow elsewhere?

 

[rdkarob]

I have a butterfly bush my front yard that I really like but it has outgrown it's location. any advice on replanting it or getting a cutting from it to grow elsewhere?

Cut it all the way to the ground in the fall. It will grow back.

 

[Agee]

If you're going to "transplant it", wait for cooler temperatures and wetter conditions. Those things do get large!

 

[terbear1225]

Cut it all the way to the ground in the fall. It will grow back.

really? i figured that would kill it.

 

[Cowgirl]

really? i figured that would kill it.

I usuallty cut mine down to knee-height or just below. They bounce right back.

It's recommended that you cut back the bush each year in winter - in cold climates cut back around November. How close you cut it depends on where you are. If you have a lot of heavy snow it's better to trim back to around 3 foot or so and mulch. If your snow is light then even a foot is okay. It will grow back the next season, and it helps keep it under control. If you don't do this, then at least prune well each year and remove the old woody branches. In warm climates you may cut it back after blooming to encourage a second bloom. Deadheading the blooms can also extend the bloom time, so it's worth the effort.

Taken from this site.

 

[terbear1225]

thanks so much for the link. one more question though:

the da*& thing is getting on my nerves, what happens if I cut it back now?

 

[Cowgirl]

thanks so much for the link. one more question though:

the da*& thing is getting on my nerves, what happens if I cut it back now?

You might kill it. It's so droughty around here. You can trim it back some, but trimming encourages new growth. The plant might not be able to support new growth. If the plant sends all it's reserve energy into the stems for growth, the root system will be seriously stressed. Can you tie it up a little so it is more contained?

 

[terbear1225]

yeah. i'll do that until fall. thank you so much for the advice! at least now I know that there's something that can be done about it later rather than just having to get rid of it so I can get to my front door

 

[jazz lady]

Like it's been said, wait until fall to do anything to it. This is the absolute worst time to try to transplant or divide anything. I had a butterfly bush at my old house that I got from a friend on the Eastern Shore. She just took a shovel and lopped off a piece of it. I planted it in the ground and it turned into the most magnificent bush. That reminds me I need to go back and get a piece of the bush so I can plant it here.

I've always cut them down to the ground in the fall/early winter, else the stems get too woody. It will definitely grow back and all the blossoms will be on pretty new wood.