Pruning Buddleias...

Today some of my Buddleia's received my attention. I had already pruned a few of my bushes, but I finished the rest of them today. They are starting to put out lots of new growth, so it is time to get them pruned so they can put their effort into producing leaves and branches that won't get cut off. And so they can make lots of flowers for everyone to enjoy. Last year, I purposely underplanted this bush with bulbs and sedum, so when it got pruned it wouldn't look so pathetic underneath it. I think my plan worked.

{Buddleja davidii var. nanhoensis 'Nanho Blue'}

Tiger likes to sleep in the dappled shade that the Buddleias make, so, of course, he was under one of the bushes I started to prune. As I worked on that bush, he moved under a different bush. But, poor little guy, I had to prune that one, too. I saved some of the large branches and "made" a bush for him to take his naps under until the real bushes fill out again. (Please don't tell me you haven't, at some point, done something a little inane for your pets.)




I actually had another motive in saving Buddleia branches: they are filled with Praying Mantis egg cases. So, not only am I doing Tiger a favor (and he probably won't even go sleep under my fake bush now), I am helping to perpetuate the Praying Mantis population of my garden. I did put other branches with egg cases in several different places because the Praying Mantises will eat each other, as well as all kinds of other insects.


Have a beautiful day!