wsommariva
Senior Member
Posts: 182
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:13 pm
Location: Northern New Jersey

Hostas and butterfly plants - Cut them down in the Fall?

Hi everyone,

In order to cut back on my Spring cleanup, can I cut down my hostas and butterfly plants in the Fall? I cut both down to the ground.

lily51
Greener Thumb
Posts: 735
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 2:40 am
Location: Ohio, Zone 5

Hostas just die down in the fall, so I let them go and the gladly return in the spring.

Butterfly bushes bloom on new growth, so prune in very early spring. They are fairly tough plants and can take being cut down to 3 feet or a bit taller. this will actually make them more attractive.
I've seen that some people prune them when winter starts, but I have always done so in the spring.
See what people who live in your area find works best.

wsommariva
Senior Member
Posts: 182
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:13 pm
Location: Northern New Jersey

Ok I will continue with my Spring plan. Thank you.

With the butterfly bushes, I cut them down to about a foot. And they grow back bigger than ever after I add a good helping of compost. I forgot to cut one down as it's out of the way, and it did well also.



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