Hi, Lynne,
Your Buddleja is doing exactly what Buddleja do - growing upright and VERY vigorously. You can prune it back to make it bushier. In fact, I used to have these in my garden when I lived on the East Coast of the US where summers were much warmer than the UK, I would cut them back hard every year just to control growth. Since you want bushier, though I wouldn't be so drastic (at least not yet). Buddleja are in pruning group 6 which means you can prune in early to mid-spring. Cut back to a low, permanent framework, making cuts at healthy, outward-facing buds. Having said that, don't hesitate to cut back hard to the base every couple of years or so if the growth is getting out of control - it can take it. In fact, these plants are so tough, I have seen them growing (and flowering well) out of cracks in walls along the tube lines!!
Kathy C
Replied: Tuesday 22nd of February 2011 07:46 PM
