Evergreen woody shrub/subshrub autumn sage (Salvia greggii) really benefits from late winter pruning, both for looks and long-term good health. See how to make the cuts with Leslie Uppinghouse, horticulturist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Plus, learn when to tip prune and why to leave it alone in summer droughts.
Support for CTG is provided by: Lisa & Desi Rhoden. Central Texas Gardener is produced by Austin PBS, KLRU-TV and distributed by NETA.
So the plant that I have in front of me is the autumn sage Salvia greggii.
So Ive done a little bit of pruning already and you can see inside the plant that I havent pruned the bright green leaves at the base.
And if you look at all of the plants in this bedding, you can see that they are all about the same height.
So that is going to give you the visual indication of where youre going to cut.
The other thing that Im going to do is Im going to make sure that Im nice and comfortable.
Im pretty much at eye level so I can see clearly where Im going to cut.
And Im also going to have a variety of very sharp tools so I can make sure to make a nice clean cut above the node right where that nice, bright green new growth is coming.
So this old growth wood that is green is still kind of fresh, but were going to go for the new green at the very base.
When youre doing something brittle, you want to make sure to not overstress the tissue of that branch.
So Im not going to use loppers, Im not going to use shears and Im not going to use big clippers.
I do have the big clippers here in case I need to cut some of that.
So with my little tiny snips, Im going to go right above the node and a nice bright green and Im just going to make a quick clean cut.
Theres a little bit of resistance on the clippers, but I feel pretty good about it.
Salvias can have wood, old wood, but you want to be careful that it doesnt get too woody because a dog can rub up against it and snap that branch.
Some of the blooms are going to really be a little bit showier on that bright green growth, which makes sense if you think about it.
But you can see here and here Im going to switch to my bigger pruners because Im talking about more wood.
So a little bit, Ill call it my mediums, but Im going to cut this one really at the base just to show the example.
So theyre quite a bit bigger the older they get and youll want to look for your oldest branches and make sure that theyre still viable, that theyre still showing a lot of fresh green growth.
And if theyre not, dont hesitate to cut it to the ground and have some of that new growth.
About every three years I take out my oldest stalks and I let some of those new ones sort of take their place.
And so thats sort of the general rule I make with all the subshrubs or the woody shrubs.
Autumn sage depending on where you are and what type of irrigation or if youre irrigating, it all can be a little bit susceptible to rot if it is too moist.
So this is a good time of year while Im trimming to really check out the base of the plant, make sure my mulch isnt too high.
So this is an example of winter pruning, but I would almost call it shaping versus cut back.
Typically, it will be around March or April after a big bloom, I like to go back and Ill tip it.
Ill tip back to some nice green growth and then I do it again in the summertime.
Autumn sage (Salvia greggii) is a gorgeous flowering perennial that deserves a spot in any garden. Known for its vibrant blooms in shades of red, pink, and purple, autumn sage brings color and texture when many other plants have turned drab. Proper pruning is the key to keeping your autumn sage looking its best. By pruning at the right times and in the right ways, you can optimize your plant’s growth, encourage prolific blooming, and maintain a shapely, healthy plant.
When to Prune for Maximum Growth
Timing is everything when it comes to pruning autumn sage. You want to avoid accidentally removing new growth or spent blooms that still hold developing seeds.
The best time for pruning autumn sage is in late winter or early spring, just before the plant begins putting out new growth. This gives the plant time to recover before it needs to expend energy on new stems and leaves. Pruning in early spring also removes any dead growth from the winter, allowing the plant to focus its energy on the living branches.
While a thorough pruning in early spring is ideal, you can also do light pruning and deadheading throughout the growing season as needed. Deadheading – removing spent blooms – encourages continual blooming. Just be careful not to prune away new growth.
Pruning Tools You’ll Need
Having the proper tools on hand will make pruning easier and safer for your plant. Clean, sterile pruning tools help prevent the spread of disease. Sharp blades make clean cuts instead of crushing or tearing.
Here are the must-have tools for pruning autumn sage:
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Bypass pruners – Hand-held pruners with curved blades that slice as they close. Perfect for stems up to 1⁄2 inch thick.
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Loppers – Like larger bypass pruners with long handles to give extra leverage and cutting power for thicker stems
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Pruning saw – For cutting through thick, woody growth that’s too big for loppers. A curved blade makes it easier to get into tight spaces.
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Sterilizing spray – Either 70% isopropyl alcohol diluted with water or a 10% bleach solution. Spray tools before and after each pruning session.
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Gardening gloves – Leather gloves protect your hands from sharp branches and thorns.
How to Prune Autumn Sage Step-by-Step
Follow these simple steps for pruning your autumn sage perfectly every time:
1. Remove Dead and Damaged Growth
Examine your plant and cut away any dead or damaged branches. These will not recover, so pruning them now saves the plant energy and prevents disease. Make cuts just above healthy buds or leaves.
2. Sterilize Pruning Tools
Before making any other cuts, spray your pruning tools thoroughly with a sterilizing solution. This prevents transmitting diseases between branches or plants.
3. Shape and Thin the Plant
With clean shears, cut back leggy branches to compact the plant’s shape. Also thin out areas that look crowded, removing some of the oldest branches to allow light and air circulation.
4. Deadhead Spent Flowers
All season long, pinch or snip off faded flowers to encourage new blooms. Don’t remove flower heads that still have unopened buds, just the ones that are completely spent.
5. Cut Back Flower Stems
After the main flush of autumn flowers, cut back the flower stems to just above the leaves. New growth will emerge and bloom again later.
6. Prune for Rejuvenation
In early spring, cut each stem back to 6 inches above the ground. This severe pruning rejuvenates the plant for vigorous new growth.
Pruning Do’s and Don’ts
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Do prune frequently but lightly. Small prunings are better than occasional drastic ones.
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Don’t prune autumn sage back hard before or during its spring growth. This slows recovery.
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Do prune leggy or wayward branches anytime to shape the plant.
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Don’t leave cut debris around the plant. Remove and discard diseased trimmings.
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Do deadhead flowers throughout summer for more blooms.
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Don’t remove flower heads that still have unopened buds. Only deadhead spent blooms.
Problems Solved by Proper Pruning
Here are some of the biggest issues with autumn sage that are easily solved with knowledgeable pruning.
Leggy Growth
If left unpruned, autumn sage can grow long and leggy with sparse lower foliage. Regularly pruning long branches back to a healthy bud forces the plant to fill out.
Few or No Flowers
Without deadheading spent blooms, autumn sage won’t continually produce new flowers. Deadhead diligently for nonstop color.
Overgrown Shape
Letting autumn sage go too long without pruning can result in an overgrown, sprawling plant. Lightly trim and shape the shrub as needed.
Disease and Pests
Diseased, dead wood left on the plant allows pathogens and pests to overwinter. Prune these away along with excessive growth around the center to increase air circulation.
Encouraging More Blooms Through Pruning
One of the primary reasons for pruning autumn sage is to maximize its prolific flowering. Follow these tips to enjoy flowers all season:
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Deadhead frequently to tell the plant to make new flower buds instead of seeds.
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Cut back spent flower stems by half after the initial bloom period ends to force new growth.
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Prune lightly but often, removing only one-third of the plant at a time to avoid stressing it.
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Ensure the plant gets full sun to fuel energetic growth and plentiful blooming.
Alternate Years for Rejuvenation Pruning
Annually cutting autumn sage back to just above the ground rejuvenates the plant but is stressful. To minimize stress:
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Mark alternating sides of the plant, one as side A and the other as side B.
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In spring of year 1, prune side A stems to the ground but only lightly prune side B.
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In spring of year 2, do the opposite – prune side B hard and side A lightly.
This allows the plant to recover each year without sacrificing too much foliage and blooms.
Pruning Potted Autumn Sage
Container-grown autumn sage needs regular pruning to control its shape and size. Follow these container care tips:
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Prune leggy stems often to keep the plant compact enough for its space.
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Prune prior to bringing pots indoors for winter, cutting back stems by one-third.
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Repot in fresh soil every 2-3 years as potting mix loses nutrients. Prune roots and stems when repotting.
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Check soil moisture frequently. Container plants dry out quicker than in-ground plants.
Watching for Regrowth After Pruning
Pay attention to your autumn sage after pruning. New growth will emerge quickly unless the plant was over-pruned. Slow regrowth indicates too harsh of pruning. Adjust your technique for the future, pruning a bit lighter each spring.
With the right pruning approach, your autumn sage will thrive season after season. Just be sure to provide this sun-loving plant with full sun and well-drained soil. Then you can sit back and enjoy the beauty pruning encourages. The vibrant flowers will brighten your garden and attract admiring pollinators.
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Winter Pruning: Autumn Sage
FAQ
How to prune sage to promote growth?
Should you cut back Autumn Sage?
What is the best fertilizer for Autumn Sage?
Why is my Autumn Sage not blooming?
Do you need to prune autumn sage?
While it does not require regular pruning to encourage growth and bloom, autumn sage can be kept to a tighter, neater form with pruning. Prune your autumn sage twice a year in the late winter after all flowering has ceased and again in August to keep the plant more compact in size.
What are the different types of autumn sage?
There are several cultivars of autumn sage, all with similar shapes and growth habits, but with different flower hues: S. greggii ‘Wild Thing’: a widely used cold-hardy cultivar with hot pink flowers. S. greggii ‘Radio Red’: the brightest red of all cultivars. S. greggii ‘Elk Pomegranate’: raspberry-colored flowers.
How do you grow autumn sage?
In most regions, this plant will thrive in a site with full sun, but in very hot climates it will appreciate some shade during the heat of the day. Give the plant moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Autumn sage does well in gravely, rocky soil, but may not tolerate dense clay-based soil. Water regularly after planting.
Does autumn sage have crown rot?
Few plant diseases affect autumn sage, but crown rot can occur if the plant is struggling in poorly draining dense soil. This plant is especially resentful of wet winter conditions. In proper growing conditions, autumn sage should bloom readily, bringing a host of pollinators to your garden.