Russian sage creates a lavender-blue cloud in the garden from early summer to mid-fall. The tall purple spikes of airy blooms draw the eye above the silver-green fragrant foliage and attract butterflies. It looks luxurious, but it really is a workhorse in the garden, vigorous, hardy and drought tolerant. This shrub thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 4-9.
Russian sage care it is minimal but involves pruning. It needs to be pruned every year to keep it neat and compact, but don’t think it reduces the blooms. Pruning is also necessary to bring this perennial as many flowers as possible, keeping the plant vigorous.
Ready to start chopping your Russian sage? Read on to learn how and when to prune Russian sage.
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When to Prune Russian Sage
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Russian sage (Salvia yangi) is a perennial that goes dormant in winter. Many deciduous plants are best pruned during their dormancyand Russian sage is one of them. Pruning while the plant is “sleeping” reduces the stress of pruning. The best time to prune Russian sage is in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins.
Can you prune in early winter? Yes, it is possible to prune Russian sage at any time during the plant’s dormancy. But the plant provides winter interest in the garden. The silvery green foliage fades as cold weather approaches, but the silver stems and interesting seeds remain attractive all winter. In addition, dry stems insulate the crown of the plant. Waiting to prune until late winter allows you to take advantage of this beauty.
How to Prune Russian Sage
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Even if you didn’t have much experience pruning bushesyou will have no problem with Russian sage. Not only is this plant very easy to prune, but it is almost impossible to overprune it.
The classic (and easiest) way to prune Russian sage is to cut it hard while it is dormant in late winter or early spring. Cut each stem between 6 and 18 inches (15-30 cm). If you leave it taller (cut to 15-18 inches), it will be a more impressive shrub when it starts to leaf out. The shorter you cut it, the more compact the plant will be when it grows.
Don’t forget to sterilize your pruner or clip before making any cuts. It’s also a good idea to wear garden gloves. I like to wear arm protection gloves, like these from Womanswork on Amazon, to protect hands and forearms.
Mistakes to avoid
Although pruning Russian sage is not difficult, there are pruning mistakes this would be better avoided. Here are some of them.
- Pruning failure. It can be tempting to let Russian sage grow naturally, without any pruning. But this road doesn’t end where you want to be. If you don’t prune your Russian sage, the plant grows tall and woody. You have fewer and fewer flowers and more branches. It ceases to be a wonderful plant and becomes an eyesore.
- Watering too much. Of course, regular watering is important when planting your Russian sage. But once established, cut off the water. This plant is drought tolerant. Too much extra water can lead to fungal problems.
- Forgetting to give space to the elbow of the plant. If you plant two or more Russian sage bushes, do not place them too close together. Leave at least 3 feet (1 m) of space between plants to allow each one to grow. If they are too close together, no amount of pruning will make them look better.
- Pruning in summer. In summer, Russian sage is in the middle of its growing season. Cutting the plant back then will not be good for the plant and may even kill it.
Buy pruning essentials
Corona Tools
Garden tool sharpener
Sharp pruning shears are absolutely essential to avoid pruning mistakes. This handy scraper will help keep your tools in top shape.
Amazon Basics
Disinfection wipes
When I prune, I keep two sanitizing wipes in my pocket to make wiping the blades between plants easy and hassle-free.
