| How to prune, and when to prune Buddleia davidii Butterfly bushes. This group of shrubs flower on new growth made in the current year, so it is to your advantage to prune the shrub well to produce many flowering shoots. The pruning should take place early in the spring - before growth starts proper. Prune the Buddleia down to around 30cm (12 in) from ground level at this time. There may already be sprouting shoots on the Buddleia in a mild spring. No matter - Prune it back hard. This will make the Butterfly Bush grow many new arching branches, that will have larger flowers than if it had not been pruned. As well as this hard prune in the spring, it is also beneficial to prune off all the dead and faded flowers once the main flowering season is over. This will be of benefit to the plant - not having to produce seeds on the old flowers - and it will bloom again later on. Take off all of the dead flowers regularly, and your Buddleia will flower until well into the autumn. Once you have finished pruning your Buddleia, you should end up with a cluster of stems no longer than 30cms. For Buddleia bushes at the back of a large border, you can perhaps just cut back to around 60cm each year. This will have the advantage of the flowering stems starting higher up and you will be able to plant other shrubs and perennials under or near to the base. The arching stems of the butterfly bush will then be seen higher up at the back of the border. 
Time to prune when Forsythia and Daffs are out in flower.
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A pair of sharp loppers may be better
for the larger branches on Buddleia
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It is nicer work on a sunny day!
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This is what the 'short back and sides' should look like when finished. (Be brave!)
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