how to tame buddleia

[floraloctopus]

We have two buddleia which have been dormant in the garden for about 6 years and stayed as weedy 1 ft high specimens. Now they have gone mad and have grown up to about 7 feet tall. I love them and want to keep them to attract the bees and butterflies but need to control them a bit as one is growing next to a tree and pushing it over.

When can I cut them back? Will they grow again? (I want them to) and when is the best time to do it please?

It might be a bit late to cut back for this year as they will flower on this year's growth. I would wait until they flower then cut back, should be around August. They can then be cut back again in Spring before flowering next year.

I give mine a Chelsea Chop - it coincides with Chelsea Flower Show at the end of May. Either cut the whole lot down by a third and it will come back bushier and flower all at once or cut 1/3-2/3 of the branches down and they'll flower later. You won't kill it whatever, it will just flower later 🌾

Thanks, I'll wait until August because this month is busy at work. How far down would you cut it? A third would be fine on most branches but could I cut the ones in the way of the tree down to almost ground level.

My Dh butchered ours and it cared not one bit.... in fact I think it liked it!