Rejuvenate plants as they get older over a few years by cutting some of the older stems to the ground. Hardy perennial salvias can be cut back hard in spring or autumn. If you want your Russian sage to stop spreading, then I recommend digging up the runners that it sends out below the ground. He publishes online articles with major focus on pets, wildlife, gardening and fitness. Prune Russian sage in the spring and summer. Amistaadt has written book reviews for Work At Home Truth. Read on to find out how and when to prune this beautiful plant. Russian sage can flop in mid-season, once it has attained the bulk of its normal height. PBS Wisconsin It is also found in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Start by removing any dead or damaged branches, then trim back any wayward stems that are growing outside of the plants natural shape. When there is just partial sun, the plant may extend a little, looking for the sun. Such uncontrolled growth can make the stems top-heavy and eventually flop. You can do this anytime during the growing season, as long as there are still some blooms left on the plant. Thank you! If the plant begins to spread open or sprawl in late spring or summer, shear off the top one-third of the stems to encourage upright growth. So only one of the bushes has been trimmed in the first photo.{{gwi:222564}}. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Grow Russian sage in a well-draining, well-shaded area with plenty of sun. Plants that are fully colored resemble lavender. I just got my Russian Sage this spring! Can I prune my Russian Sage in mid-summer here in North Carolina? WCBA's Home Building & It has a lengthy interest season, looking fantastic from June through October. But if its looking a bit scraggly, or if the flowers are sparse, a more drastic pruning may be in order. Native to the Himalayan region of central Asia, Russian sage is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Leave 18 inches in place if youre cleaning up your garden well before the last average frost date. In the winter landscape it is a visual bonus, offering a ghostly, airy appearance on frosty mornings. This will help minimize stress on the plant and encourage new growth. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Grow Beautiful Water Gardens All varieties should receive the same pruning care as the species plant. Remove some of the older stems to make room for new growth as plants mature over a few years. (Explained for Beginners), When Do You Prune Back Peonies? If you dont prune Russian sage, the plant will become very overgrown and woody, which doesnt look very nice. Cutting back Russian sage prevents it from becoming overgrown and keeps the plant full and bushy. With its lavish spray of silvery-green foliage against pale gray to white upright stems, Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) adds a casual touch of class to landscapes. The russian sage plants at Bunker Hill Rd, Algonquin always gets cut to the ground. It is resilient and requires little particular care from the gardener to overwinter. Make sure you avoid pruning any live woody stems. Admired for its silvery gray, fragrant foliage as much as its lavender-purple flowers, Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) makes a bold statement in the garden. Also remove any branches that are crossed and rubbing together to prevent further damage. An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp. 'Filigran' is more upright, growing to 36 inches tall, with bright blue flowers and more finely divided leaves. As close as nearly any plant can come to being maintenance free, easy-to-grow Russian sage needs a good annual shearing for best flowering and performance. Pruning Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a necessity if you want this woody perennial to retain its shape and produce an abundance of flowers each summer. Choose a fertilizer with a high phosphorus content that contains little to no nitrogen because phosphorus is more crucial for flowering (read the label for this information). Unlike many perennial plants and shrubs that can be pruned now, it is best to wait to prune lavender until after bloom in spring or in early fall before any danger of frost. Hummm, Im not sure what that could be. It will tolerate many soil types as long as it doesn't become waterlogged. Deadheading wont affect bloom time for Russian sage, however it should be cut back each year in the spring. This plant has an upright habit and is drought tolerant. Russian sage is as tough as it is attractive. Every four to six years, divide the clumps to revitalize the plants and limit their expansion. How do you cut back Russian sage? Had blooms. In this situation, the Russian sage would produce new growth from both the stems and the crown. So, lavender leaves are more ornamental and useful than Russian sage leaves. Watch Now: How to Grow and Care for Russian Sage Russian Sage Care Missouri Botanical Garden: Perovskia atriplicifolia, How to grow your own herb garden in any indoor or outdoor space, Life Expectancy of the Kangaroo Paw Flower. Partial sun conditions can cause the plant to stretch a bit, looking for the sun. They will grow back. Russian sage leaves are also fragrant but still not as intense as lavender. Choose a site that receives 6-8 hours of full sun. North of USDA Zone 6, provide a 2-inch (5 cm.) But, the best time for pruning Russian sage is in the spring. Many gardeners choose to leave this plant standing just as it is during the winter. I am glad to hear from you that you did it that way. To prune Russian Sage while its dormant, adhere to these steps: Ill share a small secret with you now that we are aware of how to prune Russian sage properly. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My camera is not working right now but mine are shorter than those in your photo. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello everyone and welcome to the blog. As long as it does not become soggy, it will tolerate a wide range of soil types. Remove any dead branches as well as broken or damaged wood. Russian sage pruning can be intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, your plants will become stronger and fuller and put up a more attractive flower display. 10 Tips for Growing Better Dahlias! This will help to retain moisture and prevent the roots from drying out. In actuality, once established, Russian sage does well in dry soil and requires little water. You can use sharp pruning shears or a give the plant a light trim with a pair of hedge clippers. Use clean, sharp pruning shears, and cut it back to about 6 inches above the soil. Trim back all previous growth to healthy buds within 6 to 8 inches of the ground. You can give plants a hard prune at this point, cutting plants to 6 to 12 inches tall, if you dont want to see stems all winter long. It often blooms twice in one season. 1 Should I cut back Russian sage in the fall? 'Longin' has an erect habit with less serrated leaves and flowers similar to the species. Make a shelter with cloth, burlap or even bubble wrap stapled to wood stakes in a box or teepee shape. There are three techniques you can use for pruning Russian sage. Cutting back Russian sage down to ground Method 2: Prune it for shape - With this method, you can use hedge shears or an electric hedge trimmer to shape your Russian sage bush to a nice rounded form. can i trim russian sage in summer . I'm honestly not sure how tall, I just guessed. This makes pruning a necessity as it exceeds the space allotted to it. Read on to learn more about how and when to prune your Russian sage. The first step in rejuvenating rosemary plants is to determine the size at which you want to maintain the plant. I dont recommend using poisons. Around my Russian sage in my yard, Ive put Mexican hat and chocolate flower plants. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved If any of the branches are sticking out a lot higher than others, then you can cut them back to the same length so the plant is shapely. This will encourage new growth and help keep the plant compact. This will promote bushier growth and more flowers. Is there a poisenous solution Its common name is misleading because the plant is not from Russia and is not a sage (Salvia spp.). Russian sage can be grown in pots, but its best to grow it in a container. Indoor Container Garden Design & Display Ideas How to plant: Russian sage thrives in hot, dry conditions and well-draining soils. Russian Sage Pruning In mild winter. Otherwise, wait until very early spring or late winter to perform a rigorous pruning. The long panicles of flowers become increasingly brilliant as they open. . Bev. ALL CONTENT FOUND ON THIS WEBSITE IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS AND ANY FORM OF REPRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. In this case, insert hoop stakes or use stakes and string to prop stems. I just moved them from part sun to full sun and I've never seen them look better. This heat- and drought-tolerant plant is often used in xeriscaping (landscaping with plants that require little water). Perovskia atriplicifolia Denim n Lace is its botanical name. Pruning is the main part of Russian sage care in the spring and summer. Dyson vacuum comparison: Which Dyson model should you buy? Do Prunes Taste Good You Should Absolutely Know This! Madison, Wisconsin In mild winter areas, the previous year's growth can survive into the next spring. If you dont prune Russian sage, the plant will become very overgrown and woody, which doesnt look very nice. If you want a more compact plant, prune harder. Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia, also known as Salvia yangii), which blooms from mid-summer into the fall, delivers carefree color with an open, airy habit and beautiful drifts of lavender-blue flowers. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. Also, Fine Gardening states that culinary sage plants should never be pruned in fall or winter because new growth is likely to be damaged or killed during cold periods. Before and after pruning Russian sage, sterilize pruning shear blades by wiping them with a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol. Shear off the top one-third of the stems if the plant starts to sprawl or spread open in late spring or summer to promote upright growth. Step 1: Look for the new growth Find the spot on the branch where the new leaves have started growing. Start by removing any dead or damaged stems. 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