Pruning the Buddleia

[CalicoBlue]

I have a very tall Buddleia in the front garden. Right at the front by the pavement. It is about 4.5 meters tall.

I asked the gardener chap who mowes the lawn and chops things up to prune it back in March. He said it was too soon. I then asked him two weeks ago, he told me it was too late. It is sprouting new shoots like mad, I looked it up and it should be pruned hard in Spring. I asked him again today, as he came when I was at work, so on the phone. He said yes, yes and yet when I get home it has not been touched. He obviously does not think it should be pruned.

Am I right, what do you do with your Buddleia?

I don't know but I give everything a good hack. Spent over two hours out in the back garden today trying to tame the side hedge. I hAve no clue what I'm doing but at least I'm having a go

I can't remember when it 'should' be done, but I cut mine back when I feel like it in Spring. If it's late, it just flowers later, ime.

And I haven't done either of mine yet. Not warm enough to tempt me outside!

I'd do it. Buddleia seem to thrive on any treatment. I did mine about 6 weeks ago, but if I hadnt I would be doing it now.

It's meant to be spring I think.
But it is tough as old (really really very tough) boots so you can hack it any time and it won't die.

I wonder why he doesn't want to do it - too big a job?

Buddleias are basically indestructible. Prune it back hard now.

I didn't know it was supposed to be spring. I always do it at the end of the summer! Been here twelve years, it's still going strong.

I did mine about 3 weeks ago. Cut it right back and it's started to sprout again already.

I am going to have to start it myself and tell him off when he comes to get his money.

I think because he needs a ladder to prune it that he can not be bothered. Unless he does not know what he is talking about and thinks because it has buds and is sprouting it is too late.

Either way I am not happy. DH moans about having to pay him, so I do not want to complain too much.

I prune mine hard every spring, usually Feb/March, agree that they are pretty indestructible.

You pretty much can't kill a buddleia (expect by digging it up). Cut it right down.

Cut it back now, it'll be fine.
But, why is he ignoring you?! You're paying him!

monty said to prune about 3 weeks ago

Have you got my mum''s gardener? It sounds just like him. He still hasn't put the compost on the rose beds.
It is fine to prune the Buddleia now.

I have tried the following tactics in relation to mum's gardener

1. personal supervision on the day
2. texting instructions for the week
3. give the gardener a freehand on the grounds life is too short
4. stand up row ( with lots of gestures and fast talking and raised voice etc) and refusal to pay unless he does xyz
5. next week's instructions given in person when I pay him

1 and 4 are effective, 2 and 5 are useless (he possibly cannot read or remember much) As 4 is stressful I alternate between 1 and 3

He doesn't need a ladder, you want him to cut it down to near the ground. Why would he need a ladder to do that? He's bullshitting you.

Mine loves abuse. I cut it right back to sticks and it comes back fighting every time. It's like a weed. Literally. It grows out of pavements locally.

I cut mine back to waist height in the autumn and knee height on 1 March

Do yours now, it will be fine

On close inspection, I can see that he cut a very few buds off at the side.

So today, DD and I went out with a pruning saw and clippers. We have had a good hack and it is about a third of the previous height. Some of the big branches I cut off were dead with no buds or growth on at all. There is a little left to do.

He is Portuguese, so maybe they do not have Buddleia there.

Usually he is good and as long as I give instructions personally it is fine. Though I think he tries to come when I am not at home so I don't give him too much to do. His favourite is mowing the lawn and playing with the leaf blower.

Why do I conjure a handsome young man in my mind when I hear "Portuguese gardener"? That's why you keep him, isn't it 😄

calico I banned mums gardener from using the leaf blower after he blew all the Autumn leaves from the lawn onto the flower beds.

He comes when I am not around, until he wants his pay, and then I politely ask him to do what I'd asked him the previous week before giving him any money. They all hang out at a local cafe and are family men with wives and uncles who get very upset if the younger ones don't work hard enough to keep the local gardens nice and put the bread on the table.

GeorgeTheThird Oh, that would be nice. He is a cheerful chap in his 40's. Probably not what you are picturing.

Thank you for all your advice. I wait to see how it looks in a couple of months.

You're right, that's not what I had in mind 😄
I'm sure the buddleia will be just fine

Even if you have pruned it too late, it will grow back by the end of the summer, mine did when I hacked it back completely last year!

'Buddleias are basically indestructible. Prune it back hard now.'

This, I have a couple that I prune as the fancy and weather take me. It's never too late, too early or the wrong time for buddleia
You don't need a gardener who won't follow instructions without good reasons, have a sit down talk or get someone else.

'Though I think he tries to come when I am not at home so I don't give him too much to do'

My mum leaves lists, but her gardener is lovely. Less of a pretentious plantsman and more of an enthusiastic hobby gardener and helper. Doesn't know why she wants one section as wilderness, or why wildlife is better than slate mulch, but accepts that it's her garden. They get on very well.