AboutTom 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.
Question I am losing my second butterfly bush in two years in the same garden where several other bushes of the same kind are very healthy. I suspect a borer of some kind. There is a hole in each damaged branch. How do I get rid of this problem?
Answer Hi Lynn,
Thanx for your question. It sounds like you may have stem borers. Use orthene to combat this pest. Ususually, they are difficult to get rid of once they have begun to bore and you should cut off the stems in which you see their holes and burn the cuttings. Always cut butterfly bushes down to the ground at the end of the autumn and discard the branches. Proper horticultural hygiene will help keep down pests. I hope this helps.
Tom
