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Pruning Salvias

#1 · 1st March 2022, 8:12 am

Hi everyone, I’m Heather, recently retired keen gardener. I’ve got a salvia ‘Hot Lips’ that’s become very ‘leggy’. How and when can I prune it, please?

#2 · 1st March 2022, 8:57 am

Hello Heather, I suggest leaving your Salvia pruning until April, I to have several Salvias in my garden and they do look rather "untidy" there is new growth showing on the stems, so one wants to tidy things up ASAP, but give it a little time, I have cut mine back fairly hard and they always come back well.

Lee has just completed a video on pruning, very informative, easy guides to follow, very much worth a look.

Bob

#3 · 1st March 2022, 9:27 am

Hi RedH,

Thanks for your question.

Most perennial Salvias are hardy. To be honest, I'm brutal with my Salvias. They all get the chop in February in the UK when the new growth is starting at the base. You can see this in my latest video with Salvia 'Caradonna' where I chop them back to the ground.

How to prune a Salvia:

1. Hardy Salvias are best pruned late winter before new growth emerges. Salvia 'hot lips' and 'Caradonna' are good examples.

2. Using sharp secateurs cut back the brown crisped up stems.

3. Cut back the Salvia to 2-4 inches from the ground

4. Compost or reuse the cut back material

You can like Bob suggests wait until April then pick through the salvia removing anything brown and crispy. It depends on the size of garden and the time you have. Both methods will work. I just have too many plants to be that nurturing. They will respond well to both.

Check out my how to prune back herbaceous plants guide here which shows you lots of examples.

If you're looking to add Salvias to your garden then Thompson & Morgan offer a huge variety which you can buy online here. (This is an affiliate link so if you do choose to buy receive a small commission that helps keep this blog free to use!) I hope that helps and welcome to the Garden Ninja community!

Lee