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- Q.Will My Orange Butterfly Weed Be Choked Out By The Much Larger Milkweed? - Hello, I have been very successful raising large Milkweed in my garden...perhaps a little too successful! The plants are huge ...
- Q.In Zone 8 Can Butterfly Bush Be Pruned In April To Force Blooms? - my butterfly bush has new foliage but not producing flower buds.
- Q.Butterfly Bush - About 3 weeks ago, We planted 2 butterfly bushes in our front flowerbed. We’ve since noticed that the bottom Is ...
- Q.Just Planted Butterfly Bush In A Pot On My Balcony And The Flowers Have Turned Brown! - I just purchased this cute butterfly bush from a local hardware store. I potted it (my dad helped) and have ...
- Q.June 9th And Butterfly Bush Is Not Flowering - I saved 10 butterfly bushes from last year . They all survived the cold winter . I pruned them back ...
- Q.Japanese Beetle Control On Butterfly Bush - Need some guidance on best way to deter, or rid, my butterfly bush of Japanese beetles while not deterring or ...
- Q.Butterfly Bush Performing Poorly - The leaves are speckling yellow all around and the underneath leaves starting from the bush base are shriveling you and ...
Asked by
krystalmk on
March 6, 2021
47032Q.Will My Orange Butterfly Weed Be Choked Out By The Much Larger Milkweed?
Hello, I have been very successful raising large Milkweed in my garden...perhaps a little too successful! The plants are huge and gradually spreading. That is OK, in my informal setting I can let them sprawl. My problem is that I also have a clump of orange butterfly weed about 8 feet away from the main planting area of the bigger milkweed. They are still not very large and I fear the big plants will eventually choke them out. Can butterfly weed be transplanted after it is established? — Thank you
Answered by
GKH_Susan on
March 6, 2021
Certified ExpertA.Butterfly weed has a long taproot and it doesn't transplant well. (Asclepias tuberosa) You could install a root barrier in the ground between the two so it can't cross over. You can buy them in metal or plastic at garden supply stores. It will take some deep digging, about 18 inches, to insert them. Leave about an inch above ground so the roots don't try to jump over.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/milkweed/growing-butterfly-weed.htm
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- Asked by
Anonymous on
April 20, 2021Q.In Zone 8 Can Butterfly Bush Be Pruned In April To Force Blooms?
my butterfly bush has new foliage but not producing flower buds.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
April 21, 2021
Certified ExpertA.It would be fine to prune it now. Here are two articles that should help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/butterfly-bush/butterfly-bush-pruning-how-to-prune-a-butterfly-bush.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/butterfly-bush/butterfly-bush-not-blooming.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 7, 2021Q.Butterfly Bush
About 3 weeks ago, We planted 2 butterfly bushes in our front flowerbed. We’ve since noticed that the bottom Is starting to look sickly: stems are brownish & appear to be brittle(?), and the bottom leaves are yellowing. I’ve read on your website that it could be root rot? My husband does the watering, & admits this as a possibility. So...what do we do from here?
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
May 7, 2021
Certified ExpertA.It does sound like root rot. I'm not sure how large these shrubs are, but if they're fairly small you may want to carefully dig them up, trim away the bad roots and replant them. Otherwise, they may need to be treated with a fungicide. Here's a helpful article:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/butterfly-bush/butterfly-bush-diseases.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 20, 2021Q.Just Planted Butterfly Bush In A Pot On My Balcony And The Flowers Have Turned Brown!
I just purchased this cute butterfly bush from a local hardware store. I potted it (my dad helped) and have been watering as it's been quite warm. The flowers have lost their color and have become browned! It gets about 6-7 hours of sun (it's on my balcony). Please help! I don't have a green thumb but I'm trying... Any ideas?
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
May 25, 2021
Certified ExpertA.First make sure it isn't being overwatered and the pot has good drainage. Also, the flowers will fade and turn brown. You can cut them off at that point. If you don't deadhead, you will still get new spikes, it just won't look as tidy.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/butterfly-bush/butterfly-bush-care.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
June 9, 2021Q.June 9th And Butterfly Bush Is Not Flowering
I saved 10 butterfly bushes from last year . They all survived the cold winter . I pruned them back in the spring . The leafy foliage is full now and growing tall but no flowers yet . Is this normal ? Is it still a bit too early In the summer ? Should I prune back the new growth or let it alone? They do get full sun . It is June 9th now and no flowers as of yet . What should I do? Thanks
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
June 17, 2021
Certified ExpertA.Typically, the sun is all they need for good flowering. I would test the soil, though. There could be too much nitrogen in the soil. SHould the test show too much nitrogen, you can offset with potassium and sulfur.
Here are some articles that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/butterfly-bush/butterfly-bush-care.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/soil-ph-plants.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
June 14, 2021Q.Japanese Beetle Control On Butterfly Bush
Need some guidance on best way to deter, or rid, my butterfly bush of Japanese beetles while not deterring or harming the butterflies I am attracting. Thanks for the input
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
June 23, 2021
Certified ExpertA.The best thing you can do is knock them into a dish of soapy water every day. They are on the wing for a short time and will not be on your plants all summer. The worst option is a device that attracts them to its container and then they meet their demise. That will bring them from miles around to your yard. Any kind of residual spray will harm the beneficials.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/japanese-beetles.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
June 18, 2021Q.Butterfly Bush Performing Poorly
The leaves are speckling yellow all around and the underneath leaves starting from the bush base are shriveling you and drying out and dying, the bush is looking sparse and it was full and beautiful; this happened last year as well but much later in the growing season.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
June 30, 2021
Certified ExpertA.It looks like spider mite damage. Be sure to keep the bushes watered, because spider mites love hot, dry conditions. Here is info on control:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/butterfly-bush/problems-with-butterfly-bush.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/spider-mite-control.htmWas this answer useful?00
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