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To Prune or Not to Prune that is the question

Market BoyMarket Boy Posts: 101
in Plants
I have a 4 year Old Salvia Hot Lips. It flowers its socks off every year and I love it.
But it is getting too big. It is 1.5m wide /deep and 1m high.
Can I prune it back to say 6inches from the ground or am I playing with fire.
How hard back can it be pruned.
I look forward to your suggestions.

Posts

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    Wait till spring. Take some cutting now for an insurance policy. 
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I sometimes take some off before winter to reduce wind rock, otherwise I agree with @Perki


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Yes, I would always prune shrubby Salvias in Spring.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    Very easy from cuttings. You've still got time.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I cut mine back when the worst of the spring frosts are over … but yes, take some cuttings as a back up. I find semi-ripe and heeled cuttings work well. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Market BoyMarket Boy Posts: 101
    Great, thanks for the advice guys.
    I will put the shears away and take some cuttings just in case.
    When I prune in spring is it OK to take it back to about 6" or only
    to where new growth is showing.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Pruning further than the new growth would be risky, but if you have rooted cuttings growing well by then you could take a chance on hard pruning the parent.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    Shrubby salvias root easily from cuttings.  I have one - a magenta pink - that I had to dig out as it got too big - those roots were big!  But I took cuttings (most of which I gave away) and the one planted last year is doing well, still flowering nicely.  I intend to cut it back in the spring.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
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