Butterfly Bushes- dead

[AnotherSusan]

I am in northern Virginia and my butterfly bushes are also dead. Not a sign of a sprout coming up from the roots. The bush is about 10 years old and on the south side of the house against the house. Nothing. Just the dead sticks sticking up. I am going to finally cut it back to the ground and see what happens, but I don't hold out much hope for it.

 

[kbarrett]

There was a hard late frost, my hydrangea had already budded. Killed my giant butterfly bush and hydrangeas dead to ground.
Almost finished of my clematis, it should be 3 times this size and blooming. The hydrangea is coming back strong but the butterfly bush seems to have little life left in it.

My clematis area is really poor as well.

 

[kbarrett]

I am in northern Virginia and my butterfly bushes are also dead. Not a sign of a sprout coming up from the roots. The bush is about 10 years old and on the south side of the house against the house. Nothing. Just the dead sticks sticking up. I am going to finally cut it back to the ground and see what happens, but I don't hold out much hope for it.

I'm going to do the same thing this week- cut them back and cross my fingers. We went down to DE on a fishing trip this past weekend and stopped for lunch. Beside our parking spot was a whole row of beautiful butterfly bushes...I told my husband to quick dig a couple up for me but he wouldn't do it

 

[3riverschick]

We lost greenery in the 2 polar vortexes this last winter here in western PA 15658.
2x in Jan. overnight we zoomed from Zone 5b to 4. My Zone 5-8 greenery took a real hit.
One of them we thought might be dead was our wild rose bush. We cut it all back.
It was 6 ft. tall and 8 ft. wide. looked like a huge pom pom. So pretty last year and
so fragrant. By the time we were done about a month ago, there were less then 5 canes left.
We propped them up and hoped for the best. Well the rosebush has just rushed to grow!
New canes sprouting from it everywhere! I'm so happy! We didn't bother trim the other
wild rose in the backyard. It just really looked dead. Now I think we will!
Best,
Karen

 

[rancher hicks]

Some questions. I'm about to plant two varieties of B. Bush. Did anyone here offer them any protection? Give them mulch as is suggested? If so what kind of special care did you give it?

I covered my climbing roses and still have some canes die. Wrapped some hardware cloth around the bottom as voles have girdled it in past year. Then wrapped the canes with burlap nearly to the top. I got one flower this year. It's an old one time blooming variety. Some canes survived and there are some over the top of the arbor. How can I ensure the canes will survive so I get more blooms next year? I did manage one year to have lots but it died back that winter so I'm back at square one. I grew this one from cuttings when we moved.

I also surrounded my hydrangea with poultry wire and straw but it still died back. Endless Summer, it does have some flowers but they are low to the ground. I've had it saved one year and it was much taller. Any advice on how to protect it this coming winter?

 

[lazy gardener]

You may want to check the growing zones listed for the plants you are concerned about. Some varieties are much hardier than others. I just recently bought a butterfly bush. It's putting on new growth and bloom in the pot since I gave it a shot of fertilizer. I'm debating where to put it. Need to do some research. I've not been able to grow Hydrangea to bloom in my yard, though others in my zone have great success with them. I'm guessing that your climbing rose is too tender for your zone. Some people lay the canes down on the ground and cover with mulch for the winter. I'd be concerned about a mouse picnic under those circumstances. Also, any plant that requires that much babysitting is not welcome in my yard.

 

[rancher hicks]

You may want to check the growing zones listed for the plants you are concerned about. Some varieties are much hardier than others. I just recently bought a butterfly bush. It's putting on new growth and bloom in the pot since I gave it a shot of fertilizer. I'm debating where to put it. Need to do some research. I've not been able to grow Hydrangea to bloom in my yard, though others in my zone have great success with them. I'm guessing that your climbing rose is too tender for your zone. Some people lay the canes down on the ground and cover with mulch for the winter. I'd be concerned about a mouse picnic under those circumstances. Also, any plant that requires that much babysitting is not welcome in my yard.

These are sold by a local nursery. I have been checking on these and growing zones.

The rose is from cutting from a neighbors bush. She did nothing to it and it bloomed and was so big it hung over our fencing. Situated behind her house and I suspect was protected as we lived in the city and houses were quite close. I did have it growing on an arbor at our old house and it did fine without wrapping. So I know it's hardy.

Some areas of our yards are "micro climates" and that can explain why some plants grow in parts of our yard but not others. Too if protected in the winter properly they can survive.

Laying down rose canes is more work than I can do. Besides this climber has thorns. I don't consider mulching or wrapping special treatment since in this zone sometimes it's necessary. I do what I can but like you I have my limits.

I will plant these in good garden soil, mulch them and cover them with hay in the winter. I only paid $3 -$4 dollars so it they don't grow I won't be out a lot of money.

Of course there is all kinds of directions and advice on the internet. Not all of that works for me. I just thought someone here might have more detailed advice.

Like keeping chickens they only tell you the beautiful stuff. They don't mention problems that can arise.