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Pruning Autumn Sage
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Posted by floweryearth 7b/8a GA (My Page) on Tue, Mar 17, 09 at 14:27
| Hi,
I have a group of autumn sage plants that I have had since spring '07, and they have never been cut-back. I figured I would wait until the spring, (so that they wouldn't have their tender growth ruined by a freeze).
My question is -- How much I should cut them back? I have heard to the ground, but they don't seem herbacious, but shrubby instead. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Pruning Autumn Sage
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| Greggiis, microphyllas, and similar sages act like roses and briar fruit when they bud out in the spring. That is, there are bursts of growth not only at the base, but at the tips. Intermediate positions can bud out, but you can really set them back if you cut too low. It is best to let them start to bud out the spring of their second year. Then they will tell you where to cut. If you want to cut below the top bursts, it is best if they have already started to grow. Doing so will abort any spring blooms unless you are growing them in zones where they are not hardy (as temperennials). |
RE: Pruning Autumn Sage
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| So are you saying just to cut off where the dead tips are? Thanks again |
RE: Pruning Autumn Sage
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| Cut just above where the new sprouts come out. Let them develop a few pairs of leaves on the new axillary stems first. Here is an experiment you can do to tell if a stem is either dormant or dead. Break off a piece and scrape off the bark. This is really thin whit these salvias. Live stems have a flexible stem with a greenish cambium (the outer layer under the bark that carries sap). Dead stems are brittle, and the cambium layer is tan. |
RE: Pruning Autumn Sage
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I wait for new growth from the crown and cut mine back
really hard (2/3). Removes all the woody growth from the
previous year. I do this with all my S. greggii and S.microphylla,S.coccinea and S. miniata.It usually takes about a couple of weekends as I have about 100 in the ground.
Art |
RE: Pruning Autumn Sage
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| Hybridsage: I cut my sage down to 24 inches do you think " I killed" it, I had assuned we were to prune them at this time. I never knew about looking for new growth. |
RE: Pruning Autumn Sage
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Mine are evergreens down here in the south so come Feb.or
March I prune mine. Rich has a excellent suggestion in his
post. I would wait to see growth before prunning and being
your prone to colder weather it will be later on
that your begins showing signs of life.
Art |
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