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About Tom Alonzo
Expertise
I have been a gardener for 20 years with perennials both growing from seed and from nurseries. I went through the Master Gardener Program from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service and I answered questions on the Hotline a few years ago for the Wyandotte County Kansas Extension Service. I have also lived in the Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Missouri and am experienced with a variety of climates, soils and weather conditions.

Experience
I have been growing perennials for over 20 years now. I am self-taught mostly except for a master gardener class. I have experimented with all kinds of perennials including many that are not common to my area. I have read hundreds of books and grown hundreds of varieties of plants and hope to make it a business some day. I have become versed in botanical names and growing conditions and what I don't know off of the top of my head I can usually easily find in my vast array of research material and botanical and horticultural contacts. I especially enjoy experimenting with growing plants out of zone.

You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Roses > Perennials > butterfly bush deadheading

Perennials - butterfly bush deadheading

Expert: Tom Alonzo - 11/4/2009

Question
QUESTION: My bush is beautiful with its first blooms. As they turn brown and I cut them off there are two side shoots starting to bloom. As the summer continues they multiply. (two side shoots become 4 etc.) The bush takes on a tight mess of branches as fall approaches. I love the graceful arching of the first blooms. Any suggestions? Thank you, Audrey

ANSWER: Hi Audrey,
Thanx for your question. I'm not sure what you're asking. Are you asking after preparing the shrub for winter? If so, in most parts of the U.S. and Canada, you can cut the shrub down to the ground. In the colder areas, the shrub will die down to the ground anyway like hibiscus and come back up in May. You can always prune to keep the shrub neat if you're concerned about the appearance of the shrub. I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Opps, guess I didn't word it right. I do cut down in spring. During summer should I cut the dead brown blooms off. If I do I get a tight mess of branches losing the lovely arching in the begining. I wondered if there is a better way. Thanks

Answer
Hi Audrey,
Thanx for the additional information. Anytime you deadhead a butterfly bush, you may prune the stem down as far as you need to in order to keep the shrub looking tidy. So, not only can you pinch off the spent flower but you can also trim the branch back accordingly to help maintain tidiness. I hope this helps.
Tom

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