A lush butterfly bush can brighten any garden area with hardy leaves and large, bottlebrush-like flowers from blue, to purple to pink.
The flowers are what gives the plant its namesake as they attract a variety of insects, most notably butterflies.
While the butterfly bush is a delight for most gardeners, it can be a sore point if the bush appears to be dying. To care for a dying butterfly bush, often all that is needed is to make sure the branches are fresh, the soil is rich, and the right amount of water is being given.
Trim off any brown, dead flowers by cutting with pruners just behind the flower where it meets the stem. If you are in the growing season, be sure not to clip the next bud or stem in line for flowering.
Loosen the upper 2 inches of soil with a cultivator, careful to not disturb the roots of the butterfly bush, and add 2 inches of nutrient-rich compost. Mix the ground soil with the compost, using the cultivator.
Pull away any weeds from around the bush to help cut out competition for water. Add 3 inches of mulch around the base of the plant to block new weeds from growing.
Water the butterfly bush only about once a week after checking to make sure the soil beneath the mulch is dry. As an evergreen, the butterfly bush doesn’t tolerate sitting in standing water and can withstand going dry between watering.
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