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Salvia hot lips pruning

james-HYumfQsjames-HYumfQs Posts: 68
in Plants
Morning everyone, thanks for all the help and advice received on here by you all, much appreciated. I have a huge hot lips salvia at the school, planted just under 2 years ago and it's amazing each year and has spread like wildfire. I want to prune it back and most advice is late winter early spring others say wait until spring. It's still got little green leaves on but I've taken some dead bits off. I've moved it yesterday, with plenty of root ball and a massive hole as I needed to reposition. What month is the best time to prune back. Need to trim it back nearly 50% or 35% as to not be too aggressive. 

Thanks 🙏
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Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    As you've moved it I'd get on with cutting it back. I wouldn't have done either till the winter has passed but you might get lucky


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I have several salvias of similar size, but would wait until at least mid April before cutting back. We could still get severe weather and any top growth will help to protect the plant  :)
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I agree with all the above. I have an old bush of Hot Lips and never prune until late Spring.
  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    Prune March / April ie late spring.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Wait until the frost has past before pruning -  to the lowest green leaves. It can be a good time to take cuttings - potting up the pruned bits - if cuttings are a thing for you.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited 3 February
    I agree, late spring for proper pruning. If it's really sprawly and getting in the way you can give it a light tidy-up now. Bear in mind that new growth appearing now could get clobbered by frost - it's only just February, not out of the woods frost-wise until late May here. I normally take a bit of a chance with the shrubby salvias and hard prune around mid-late April if there's no frost in the two-week forecast at that point.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • james-HYumfQsjames-HYumfQs Posts: 68
    nutcutlet said:
    As you've moved it I'd get on with cutting it back. I wouldn't have done either till the winter has passed but you might get lucky

    Thanks, I got a huge rooted ball, about 24" square and over a foot deep, no damaged roots, so I'm hoping it will be OK. I thought now would be a good time to move before it gets too warm. 😑 I used some good shrub mulch and watered in so hopefully it'll be ok. Would it likely die? I guess as there are some leaves on it if I've caused a problem they will start showing signs? 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    james-HYumfQs said:
    I thought now would be a good time to move before it gets too warm. 😑 I used some good shrub mulch and watered in so hopefully it'll be ok. Would it likely die? I guess as there are some leaves on it if I've caused a problem they will start showing signs? 

    I grew Hot Lips for years and rarely lost any (in London) even under snow and ice. Some tough and hardy plants (like roses) are best to move when dormant. Salvias are from central America and are pretty borderline hardy in the UK, so any stress makes them even less likely to survive. That's why we move and prune when it's warm.

    Where abouts are you?
  • james-HYumfQsjames-HYumfQs Posts: 68
    Fire said:
    james-HYumfQs said:
    I thought now would be a good time to move before it gets too warm. 😑 I used some good shrub mulch and watered in so hopefully it'll be ok. Would it likely die? I guess as there are some leaves on it if I've caused a problem they will start showing signs? 

    I grew Hot Lips for years and rarely lost any (in London) even under snow and ice. Some tough and hardy plants (like roses) are best to move when dormant. Salvias are from central America and are pretty borderline hardy in the UK, so any stress makes them even less likely to survive. That's why we move and prune when it's warm.

    Where abouts are you?I'm in Berkshire RG10

    I thought it's best to move now when dormant, I thought from march onwards it will be spring into action again. Maybe I was too soon 😕 I'll buy another one this year as it seems it won't survive. Shame. I'll know for next time. I've seen loads of people move them around now so thought it would be safe to do so. 
  • james-HYumfQsjames-HYumfQs Posts: 68
    nutcutlet said:
    As you've moved it I'd get on with cutting it back. I wouldn't have done either till the winter has passed but you might get lucky

    nutcutlet said:
    As you've moved it I'd get on with cutting it back. I wouldn't have done either till the winter has passed but you might get lucky
    Is there anything I can do to help avoid losing it at this stage? As I say, Massive root ball and watered in. Is it just the shocking to the roots that causes the issue? I guess wrapping it makes no difference at this stage? Or liquid seaweed? Plant hormone? 
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