If I made a large sage bush into a sage tree? A short one to be sure, but lately no matter what I do and how much I prune, etc, the powdery mildew won't leave it alone. So I got to wondering, what would happen if I pruned all of the lower branches and made it kind of a little tree, thereby giving more airflow under and around?

Our rainy season has ended and we won't see another drop fall 'til October. In the same herb circle, the Syrian hyssop (za'atar), wormwood, and rue (yeah especially the rue) are doing fine. The indigo spires salvia immediately next to the sickly sage is going gangbusters (the lemongrass next to it ain't too happy, is there something I don't know?) and the veggie garden is at least 10 feet away. Whiteflies on the mint, but we won't get into that now, totally different garden. Basil isn't bad, not fabulous, but not bad - and no, nowhere near the rue.
So whaddya think about a little sage tree? Will it help, or do I have to mix magic potions in the kitchen again?

Peace......