Let me say right from the start today that this job was not FUNWORK!
No definitely not.
Why?
Because I am not a keen gardener.
I ended up tired and with sore hands and arms.
Fred was also very tired.
2. we had the right tools
3. we had the right plan for the job.
It all started when we realised that Fred was able to take some time off last weekend from the report he was writing and the weather was dry and not too cold.
So we went out together to the front garden to tackle the pruning of the Buddleia Tree or Butterfly Tree.
Right Tools
Fred got out the big tarpaulin type thing we have for bundling up the branches to go to the dump and then started into the tree.
Now the first year we had to do this we were inexperienced and did not have 2 pruning shears nor the tarpaulin but we learned from that experience and now we are properly equipped.
When I came out Fred had already started and was busy in behind the tree.
He had one side well started
and
a pile of branches were waiting for me to cut them up smaller and put them on the tarpaulin
and
so were a second pile.
Yes that is me with the pruning shears cutting branches to make them smaller to be more manageable for collecting up and going to the dump.
Fred was of course still busy cutting at that tree
and throwing out more & more branches toward me.
When I had got through those two original piles I called Fred out to do another job that is not so hard.
Right Plan
To jump up and down on the pile on the tarpaulin so that they didn't get too high.
Definitely think he enjoys that more than the pruning from the look on his face in the different pics.
Then the same process started all over again with the rest of the branches until we had them all cut and flattened and some of another bush added to the pile.
Of course a good workman will always clean up after himself.
More Right Tools
Next comes some more very important equipment for this job.
The Bungee cords (at least that's what we call them).
I love these things because they are so very useful.
Continuing the Right Plan
The tarpaulin has metal eyelets at the corners and along the sides so Fred takes one of these elasticated Bungee cords and attaches it to one of the corners and then
stretches the cord out and attaches it to the opposite corner.
He repeats this in the same way for the other two corners and then
joins the opposite sides together to complete the bundle.
Now that really is a large bundle but with the 4 cords it is well held together ready for the journey in the boot of the car to the dump.
But
will it fit in the boot of our car?
That is what we said the first time as well and there was no problem but the car we had was bigger then.
However we still have no problem with this car as well as the boot is a good size
and with the back seats down the bundle goes in easily, and yes I do help him!
Now here is the tree when the job is finished.
It is well pruned back as these trees have to be and you do not have to be extremely careful in the pruning and as an experienced gardener told us a few years ago "the more they are pruned back the better they will flower".
So basically it is a relatively easy gardening job to do because
you do not have to be too careful how or where you cut
as long as you do prune it well back
and
do it either in March or early April
(in places like Northern Ireland that are only thinking of Spring then).
To make it even easier learn from us and have
the right plan
the right tools
and
right company
for the job.
Now we are wondering if again we were not stringent enough in our pruning but this is roughly the same as we did last year and we had a good result from that as you can see.
And the best test of all is how many butterflies it will attract.
We had more last year than the year before although they flittered around so much it was hard to get pictures of them.
Although this was a day of hard work for me (I'm not fit) when it comes to the Summer I will have many days of pleasure because of my beautiful Butterfly Tree.
If you have a Buddleia enjoy your butterflies.
Good job, the garden looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks D, still some way to go with the weeds!!!
DeleteI love butterfly bushes. I have one thats at least 6 years old and still blooms very well. Yes, the butterflies love them.
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie, Do you do anything in particular other than the pruning? We haven't and it just seems to flourish. Enjoy your butterflies.
DeleteWow! You did an amazing job here. It is totally worth all the sweat! Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board.
ReplyDeleteYou really ended up with a nice rounded shrub, and so many flowers! Great job on the pruning.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up at Women With Intention Wednesdays! I look forward to what you'll share tomorrow! :)
ReplyDeleteA wonderful job completed because two people work beautifully together and you were both prepared for what was it come! ALways my pleasure to see you here. Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I'm not that good at pruning bushes and your tutorial is so helpful! I plan to plant a few butterfly-welcoming bushes next spring so I'm pinning this! Thanks for sharing at Inspiration Thursday.
ReplyDelete