SHRUBS > sage > PRUNING
IN THIS GUIDE
SALVIA GUIDES
Common ProblemsContainer GrowingCuttings PropagationDeadheadingDivisionHarvestingOverwinteringPlantingPruningVarieties – Hot Lips – Common Sage – Pink Varieties – Woodland Sage
Salvias , or ornamental sage as they are sometimes known , are highly esteem plants that can find a situation in many British garden .
They are generally reasonably sluttish to care for and do not want a monumental amount of upkeep .
However , it is of import to make certain that you know when to snip or cut back your salvias because dissimilar salvias are regale in different ways .
sage come in four main type : annuals , herbaceous perennials , tender perennials and shrubby types .
The eccentric you are growing will regulate if and when they ask to be lop – read on to get hold out more .
Do You Need To Prune Salvias?
No pruning caper on salvias are truly crucial and many sage will extend to grow and blossom just fine without any pruning or trim back back at all .
However , you’re able to aid to keep your plants looking good and do well by undertaking a few simple jobs throughout the year .
“ Whether and how you prune your salivas will depend on the size of your garden as well as the type of Salvia , ” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly .
“ If you have a small garden , the time taken to make your sage look its good will be well spent but if you have acres instead of a few square metres then necessity will probably dictate a less exigent approach . ”
As well as pruning shrubby types , there is also deadheading and cut back that you might do , depending on which salvia or salvias you are growing .
I will explore the best strategies when it comes to these line of work for different types of salvia in a little more profoundness below .
When To Prune Salvia
The in force time to prune or cut back most salvia is in the spring .
While some gardeners will prefer to cut back and prune in the autumn , there are a number of rationality why , for different types of salvia and for the wildlife that shares your space , this is not the good estimate .
“ Do n’t cut them back in autumn ! ” warns Vicki Weston , Owner of Westons Salvias .
“ Although the plant will look a bit unfinished in the thick piece of winter , wait until you’re able to see unripened shoot at the very base of the plant , then you’re able to tidy back and deadhead to a neat flesh .
“ You ’ll have to be patient with some but they will all shoot . ”
Spring is a adept clip to prune or cut back sage because you should keep dead stem in place for wildlife during the fall .
You should prune to blank for new increment , which will get light into the lower portions of the plant when it is ask .
Pruning Annual Types
Annual salvia do not really need to be trim because this case , which includesS. splendens , S. farinacea , andS. horminum , is used for summer love and is then merely discarded at the oddment of the growing season .
However , like other salvias , these types can be given a trim before they are planted out into a garden .
This trim just before implant out will encourage the plant to bush out and take on a lusher and more filled - out frame .
Pruning Herbaceous Perennial Types
Herbaceous repeated sage that are dauntless enough to remain outdoors yr - unit of ammunition will , unlike annual types , get back each year .
S. nemorosaandS.xsylvestrisare good example of sage of this eccentric .
Like annuals , these can be trim back before planting , as can the other salvias on this list too .
Deadheading recurrent types can assist to sustain the flowering period .
However , the principal pruning occupation is cut back the old stems .
Some nurseryman choose to do this in fall , but it is good to wait until the spring because the perennial stem and one-time leafage that remain over the winter month aregreat for the wildlife in your garden .
“ After rationalise herbaceous types , keep the crown mulched to keep the plant affectionate during cold winters , ” says Lyndi Garnett from the Victorian Salvia Study Group .
Pruning Tender Salvias
bid sage likeS. greggiiare also recurrent and can come in back year after year , but , in all but the soft and most sheltered of garden , they will need some wintertime tribute .
“ Deadhead all repeated types regularly to keep the flower coming , ” says Vicky .
These types are also well pruned in the springiness , not only for the sake of the wildlife but also to contribute a protective back of the old stems and any old foliage that does not naturally die back entirely in position .
Pruning Shrubby Varieties
Last but not least are the shrubby salvia – technically sub - bush .
Unlike the other types of salvia talk about above , these do have a lasting woody framework of stem or subdivision .
Some are evergreen while others are not quite so unfearing and will need wintertime trade protection .
Spring is the good time to guarantee the main annual maintenance prune of these modest shrubby plants .
Pruning shrubby salvia is blood-related to pruning anothersmall Cuban sandwich - bush like lavender .
Pruning can avail foreclose the plants from becoming woodier , leggier and less floriferous over time .
In the leaping , take a look over the plant and off any dead , damaged or diseased stems or branch .
Next , it is typically a dear idea to skip back the whole plant by around a third , cut back to growth point where new shoots come forth .
“ For minuscule shrubby plants , cut down to a upright green bud but not to ground , as your plants might go into impact , ” says Lyndi .
“ For taller , woodier salvias , you may cut back to 2 - 3 node to encourage new maturation , mulching well afterwards to keep the root and crown warm in stale areas . ”
If you are the character of person who opt a very neat and healthy garden , you might also want to cut back the deadened , twiglike heyday stems on these salvias once flowering is done .
However , as with many slew back or pruning Job , this is purely cosmetic and not really something that you demand to do .
