JennyJ that is so good to know, I will look forward to that happening next year I hope. I like the idea of the offspring coming out as different colours.
Last year I cut the lavender right down to the wood in late autumn. They then grew back to what you see in the photo.
It's best to cut plants like rosemary, lavender and bushy salvias down to low leafy growth, not cutting into "old wood" (darker, harder, gnarly). If you look on the stems, you should fairly clearly see the point where the new growth is starting and the old wood below that. The old wood doesn't readily reshoot.
The article says 'don't take the plant back by more than a third'. Not sure about that. Doesn't hold for bushy salvias. Just go back to lowest green growth point.
I think they're herbaceous salvias in @Pink678 's pics, so the old growth can come off right down to ground level in spring.
I agree about the shrubby salvias, they can be pruned hard as you like in spring after the worst of the frosts are over, down to where some new growth is showing which on mine can be right down near the base, or even from below ground level for a few varieties (Nachtvlinder is one).
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I trim my nemesias constantly, as soon as there are only a few flowers on the top, I cut that stem right off, you can keep them going through the winter, this is a few of mine at the moment, they’ve been in the tubs in some old compost since last summer.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I see JennyJ! That makes sense - in spring, to cut the old growth spikes completely to the ground, but I'm assuming leave the fresh new green stuff you can see in the photo. I hope I've got this right. I've made a note mine are herbaceous salvias, very good to know.
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