In late summer, one of the most beautiful flowers, Russian sage, starts to bloom and continues into early autumn. If you have it in your garden, you will begin to notice how its tall purple flowers grow.
Have you ever wondered how to get more of its stunning blooms? Last year, I kept asking myself the same question! Since it is a perennial, Russian sage can live for four to six years.
That’s why I started searching for the best ways to keep it healthy and bushier. I tried everything until I found the perfect solution – pruning! Nothing turned out better than trimming it a little bit.
Since I did this last season, this year my plant has started to grow like crazy! So if you also want to prepare your Russian sage for incredible growth next season, grab your shears and follow the tricks I’m about to share.
When Should You Start Trimming?
Before we start, I want you to know when the perfect time to prune these flowers is. This is an important part because you don’t want to risk damaging the plant. You have three seasons to pick for trimming them!
Do it once a year in winter, late fall, or in the spring. I usually do it in the autumn when it starts to wilt, and that’s the best time for Russian sage!
Now let’s see why pruning is good for your plant. As Russian sage can become very woody and overgrown, it’s a must to trim it a little. The best part of pruning Russian sage is that there will be more flowers and growth is significantly encouraged!
Let’s See The Best Method For Pruning Russian Sage
Shall we start? First, you’ll need to gather the right gardening tools! You should choose between bypass and anvil pruners. The decision should be based on how much dead wood you want to remove. Anvil pruners are more powerful and suitable for that part of the job!
Make sure to sterilize the pruners before and after you’ve done the work. The tool may become infected by fungal disease, which could threaten the Russian sage as well!
Wait until it leaves out to make the cuts. Start by cutting your plant down to a height of eight to eighteen inches. This will lead the flower to come back bushier and fuller! You should also cut each stem off above a pair of side buds.
Remember, the best flowering comes when Russian sage is pruned heavily! Any damaged or wilted leaves should be trimmed too. After the pruning is done, water the plant a little so it can recover quickly!
Ready to start with some trimming? If you use these tricks for pruning your Russian sage, you’ll get the most flourishing flowers next season.
The best part is that even if you are not a great fan of cutting flowers, these methods might change that. It’s the easiest way to do it, it won’t even take an hour!
Now I can’t stop looking at my Russian sage because it has really exceeded all of my expectations. Its blooms are the prettiest I’ve ever grown.
All that is left to do is take care of your plant, grab the shears in late fall or winter, and start pruning! Trust me, you’ll be amazed by the results next summer when it starts flowering.