Gardening enthusiasts will know that certain jobs are best completed in certain months.
According to renowned British horticulturist Monty Don, February is the ideal month to prune the butterfly bush if you’re in a specific part of the UK.
The gardening guru said: “If you live in the south or a sheltered area, February is the best time to prune the butterfly bush (buddleia davidii).
“And it can be done any time in the coming month in colder areas.”
'The fragrant flowers of buddleja are a favourite nectar source for butterflies'
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Pruning encourages fresh, healthy growth and shapes the plant to the gardener’s personal tastes.
Don explained: “It produces its flowers on new growth so if it is cut back hard new, just before it begins growing, you will both stimulate extra new shoots and make sure that the shrub has as high a proportion of flower to wood as possible.”
For those whose buddleia is growing in the open, this can be cut back very hard. Gardeners can leave two or three sets of new shoots from the base.
If the buddleia is growing in a border, it is better to cut back to two or three feet from the ground.
This will ensure the new growth does not have to compete with the herbaceous plants around it for light and air.
The expert explained that if the pruned stems are cut into short lengths, they can form a bundle in a corner to make cover for insects and small mammals.
This key tip will add wildlife to your garden, claimed the gardening expert.
The Royal Horticultural Society explained why every garden lover should boast buddleia davidii.
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'These undemanding, mainly deciduous shrubs, deserve a place in every garden'
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The experts here said: “Known as the butterfly bush, the fragrant flowers of buddleja are a favourite nectar source for butterflies.
“These undemanding, mainly deciduous shrubs, deserve a place in every garden with their spectacular displays of blooms and honey scent. Some selections are compact and can be grown in containers.”
Another gardening job Monty Don recommends undertaking in February is pruning roses – particularly if you live in a specific part of the UK.
He said: “There are a number of pruning jobs that can be done in February if you live in the south of the UK but which can keep perfectly well into March if you live further north or you simply do not have time.”
Whenever you get around to this task, the horticulturist shared some important considerations for pruning beautiful roses.
