Its expansive growth sometimes makes it necessary to change the location of the butterfly bush. These instructions explain what you should pay attention to when moving so that the flowering plant grows back quickly.
How can I transplant a butterfly lilac?
To successfully transplant a butterfly bush, choose a leaf-free day in October, November or early spring. Shorten the shrub by a third, tie the branches together, dig up the root ball and quickly transplant it to the new location. Then water and fertilize abundantly.
When is the best time?
To transplant a butterfly bush without much stress, please wait for the leaf-free period. The months of October and November are a wise choice of dates, as at this time the ground is still warmed up by the autumn sun.
Alternatively, we recommend a frost-free day in early spring, as soon as the ground has thoroughly thawed. In this case, overwinter the buddleia in its current location as usual so that it is not weakened by frost damage when you move it.
Step-by-step instructions
Since a lot of root volume is lost when transplanting, cut the butterfly bush back by a third in advance. In this way you maintain the balance between underground and above-ground parts of the plant. Then proceed as follows:
- Tie the bush with a rope into a loose bun
- Pick off the root ball with a sharp spade (€29.00 on Amazon)
- The radius corresponds to at least three quarters of the growth height after pruning
- Use the digging fork to loosen the root ball and lift it out of the ground
The more soil left on the root ball, the more beneficial it is for later growth. Before you move the butterfly bush, a planting pit with 1.5 times the diameter of the root mass should already be prepared at the new location. Transport the dug up shrub to the new location quickly. There you transplant the tree as deep as before. Mud the soil and loosen the rope from the branches.
Care after moving
Afterwards, water a butterfly bush abundantly and regularly without causing waterlogging. If you move the flowering tree in autumn, spread a thick layer of mulch made of leaves and brushwood over the root disk as winter protection. By enriching the excavated pit with compost and horn shavings before transplanting, you support rooting in the new location.
Tip
Proper transplanting and pruning go hand in hand with the butterfly bush. The clippings are far too good to be disposed of in the compost. Instead, clever home gardeners use 10 to 20 cm long head shoots as cuttings to propagate their most beautiful flowering shrub.
