When it comes to tending the butterfly busy, here’s what I do, when, and why.
The first “trimming” doesn’t happen until the ends of each branch are not producing the green foliage, which is usually deep into the spring – that would be about mid-May for a Michigander like myself.
Overall, the bush itself is low maintenance, which makes this plant a blessing to have.
Mid-summer
Around mid-summer, I deadhead the spend plumages. Doing so encourages the butterfly bush itself to grow which attracts more butterflies and other beneficial insects – like hummingbird moths and bees.
Check out this video, to see how it’s done.
At the end of the season, it’s a personal choice to cut it back to a smaller shrub or to leave it as is. Typically, I’ve cut it back to about 12-16 inches just to keep the winter elements from damaging the branches; plus that saves some tending time in the spring. Besides, depending on its location in your yard, it may be best to minimize visual purposes. (If you are anything like me, seeing bare trees for months on end, in the winter, does something to my mental health so why add to the reminder that spring isn’t here yet.)
Until next time, enjoy the delicate butterflies and other friends too.
~ Amanda
