poor buddleia

The buddleia has flourished until this year. Don't know how old it is but it wasn't young when we moved here 14 years ago. The leaves are curled and withering, and there are just one or two sad flowers. Has it come to the end of its life? Or can I do something to rescue it?

 

I cut mine down hard in early Spring - I mean within 12" or 18" of the grown. Do you do that?

Dunno if it is related to what you are seeing, but might be worth giving it another season and pruning hard in early Spring if you have not been doing that before.

 

Must admit I have been even more vicious...4 to 6"...works for me.:thumb:

 

I have a young (only about 2years old) buddleja with yellow flowers (not globosa though looks like a normal buddleja davidii...) and i pruned it right back in spring but it's really unsightly and plain lanky although covered in flowers, is this normal?

PS: Sorry to hijack your thread aud, hope you don't mind too much:thumb:

 

Don't worry...it appens....the weather has messed up loads of plants and trees and flowers this year.

 

I cut budleahs twice, once inautumn then again mid may, the result is a tidier bush in some gardens I also do the second cut at differnt times so as to create a sucesion of flowering.

I have never had a late pruned budleiah that hasnt flowered, the plant is relentless.

 

I've checked all the leaves and can't see any infestations. I do prune it every spring but not very hard. Will follow that advice. Meanwhile, found ground elder round its roots. Could that cause withered leaves?

 

I don't think ground elder would do it. I live in a rural area and am surrounded by fields. perennial weeds are an eternal problem but have not harmed any shrubs. I have three huge Buddleias and I prune them hard in the spring. I also feed them too. I don't know if this is the problem but feeding might help. Certainly can't harm them.

Pro gard i ust try your method of pruning. I would love to lengthen the flowering period of these glorious shrubs.

 

"Meanwhile, found ground elder round its roots. Could that cause withered leaves?"

No, not in my opinion

 

The Buddleias from its original home is considered a weed.

 

Give it a No 1 in autumn. Next spring you will see the benefits of such a strategy. My white one is amazing. I wish i could recover like that.