I'm feeling as dumb as a doorknob here, but I can't figure out when to prune
my Texas (blue) sage. It is about to devour my driveway, but I'm afraid to
prune it and wind up killing or maiming it.

It has bloomed almost all year, thanks to it's proximity to the sprinkler
system. The leaves are lush and green on the ends of the branches, but the
branches themselves are very woody going into the heart of the plant. Being
evergreen, I worry that if I cut it back I'll wind up with a bunch of woody
sticks and no leaves. And I worry that if I trim it during the winter I'm
going to shock it and kill the next season's growth or something like that.

Can anyone tell me when is the best time to prune this shrub? Thanks for
your help.

Julie

marcesent wrote:
I'm feeling as dumb as a doorknob here, but I can't figure out when to prune
my Texas (blue) sage. It is about to devour my driveway, but I'm afraid to
prune it and wind up killing or maiming it.

It has bloomed almost all year, thanks to it's proximity to the sprinkler
system. The leaves are lush and green on the ends of the branches, but the
branches themselves are very woody going into the heart of the plant. Being
evergreen, I worry that if I cut it back I'll wind up with a bunch of woody
sticks and no leaves. And I worry that if I trim it during the winter I'm
going to shock it and kill the next season's growth or something like that.

Can anyone tell me when is the best time to prune this shrub? Thanks for
your help.

Julie


I've trimmed mine back to just sticks and it has returned every time. As
far as timing goes I did the trimming in early spring.

I agree, I've pruned mine vicously and it always comes back for more.
Chris


"jOhN" wrote in message
m...
marcesent wrote:
I'm feeling as dumb as a doorknob here, but I can't figure out when to
prune my Texas (blue) sage. It is about to devour my driveway, but I'm
afraid to prune it and wind up killing or maiming it.

It has bloomed almost all year, thanks to it's proximity to the sprinkler
system. The leaves are lush and green on the ends of the branches, but
the branches themselves are very woody going into the heart of the plant.
Being evergreen, I worry that if I cut it back I'll wind up with a bunch
of woody sticks and no leaves. And I worry that if I trim it during the
winter I'm going to shock it and kill the next season's growth or
something like that.

Can anyone tell me when is the best time to prune this shrub? Thanks for
your help.

Julie
I've trimmed mine back to just sticks and it has returned every time. As
far as timing goes I did the trimming in early spring.

Thanks guys, I'll wait until February or so and take it to it!

Julie

"Chris" wrote in message
...
I agree, I've pruned mine vicously and it always comes back for more.
Chris


"jOhN" wrote in message
m...
marcesent wrote:
I'm feeling as dumb as a doorknob here, but I can't figure out when to
prune my Texas (blue) sage. It is about to devour my driveway, but I'm
afraid to prune it and wind up killing or maiming it.

It has bloomed almost all year, thanks to it's proximity to the
sprinkler system. The leaves are lush and green on the ends of the
branches, but the branches themselves are very woody going into the
heart of the plant. Being evergreen, I worry that if I cut it back I'll
wind up with a bunch of woody sticks and no leaves. And I worry that if
I trim it during the winter I'm going to shock it and kill the next
season's growth or something like that.

Can anyone tell me when is the best time to prune this shrub? Thanks
for your help.

Julie
I've trimmed mine back to just sticks and it has returned every time. As
far as timing goes I did the trimming in early spring.

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jOhN wrote:
marcesent wrote:
my Texas (blue) sage. It is about to devour my driveway, but I'm afraid to
prune it and wind up killing or maiming it.

It has bloomed almost all year, thanks to it's proximity to the sprinkler
system. The leaves are lush and green on the ends of the branches, but the
evergreen, I worry that if I cut it back I'll wind up with a bunch of woody
sticks and no leaves. And I worry that if I trim it during the winter I'm
going to shock it and kill the next season's growth or something like that.

Can anyone tell me when is the best time to prune this shrub? Thanks for
your help.

Julie


I've trimmed mine back to just sticks and it has returned every time. As
far as timing goes I did the trimming in early spring.


I called in on Dr. Doug Welsh's
(http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/faculty/welsh.html)radio show to ask about mine. He said to prune in April and September
with regularhedge clippers - about 2".

Now - I have one that is commonly called "Texas Silver Sage" (not really
a sage at allapparently) and turns out to be the true native variety. It was getting
very sparse so Itrimmed it back severely (nearly to the ground) early this Spring. It
is already about3' tall and nice and bushy again.

YMMV.

Cheryl
Lyons, TX


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