Pruning buddleia

The roses and clematis were newly planted in the autumn, so I plan to leave well alone - I hope that is right.

It is very exciting having a proper garden - previously we lived in the middle of nowhere and just had grass and a wild flower bank. It is great seeing all the new things coming through - hundreds of bulbs coming up with a clump of some tiny little purple irises that I really love.

Time to start your clematis and roses now!!!

It was fairly easy to get at my plant as it is on the edge of some high decking with a rail round (bit like a ship!) and I just leaned over and did it without getting my feet muddy!

I like Buddleaia - it's tough as old boots.
I had a look at the garden today but the lawn and borders are so wet, it is impossible to do anything. It hasn't rained today - something of a miracle and I hope to do some cutting back within a day or so.
I put some slug pellets down (organic/said to be safe for birds and pets) because despite the cold, the slugs are already attacking large green leafy shoots. I hate those slugs

Hack it as much as you like. It'll be fine. Buddleias are thugs.

I have one that I cut down to as near the ground as I can every year and it still ends up six or seven feet tall and covered in flowers every year.

I had buddleias in my last garden; tough beggars they are. We are currently clearing what was a lost space in our garden and DH has unwittingly (so he says) cut down a lovely photinia. A buddleia might be just the thing to put in its place.

Done! - and knackered! It was huge and in an awkward place. And clearing it all away was harder work than the chopping.

I give mine a bit of a feed after just to cheer it up.

It's always amazing. You think that it's never going to grow back as big - then suddenly off it goes!

Ditto - exactly as Merlot

We did our three yesterday - knee height. The dogwoods get the same treatment.

Many thanks for the advice - I will get out there this afternoon!

Definately get it done asap. Cut all the shoots down to one or two buds (which you will easily be able to see). They respond very well to a hard chop so if in doubt cut it off. You may need a pair of long handled choppers as the shoots can be rather thick and tough. You really can't do much harm to a Buddleia so an excellent one for a pruning novice. Enjoy!

I've found that buddleias are so tough you can prune them at any time. Now would be a particularly good time, before they are in full growth. We've hacked them down to ground level before now and they've still shot up new stems! They are the bane of the railways and waterways as they can seed themselves into crevices in walls and cause damage. So - go for it