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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2006 10:55:33 GMT
Hi, I think this is probably one for 4P - my little sage bush is getting quite straggly - lots of leaves at the ends of straggly wooden stems. Should I cut it back hard now? or wait until spring? or leave well alone? Incidentally, I took your advice re. trimming the oregano and it's thriving ... cheers ...
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 20, 2006 11:02:28 GMT
Morning CC. Well, it's a bit risky trimming sage - it depends on the age and vigour of it. All the books tell you not to trim too hard and that sage is short lived but I have a patch of purple sage I planted nearly 16 years ago which I hack back when it's gone a bit leggy and it's always grown back fine. It's about 5' X 4' now! My soil is very light, sandy and free draining though. I hesitate to tell you to do the same in case it dies! The alternative is that trick that was on GW a while ago - plunging the whole plant in a bucket of soil up to its tips and letting each tip root so you get a lot of new babies. It's entirely up to you!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2006 11:10:48 GMT
Thanks ... I think I'll try pruning, since it is in quite light soil. Would now be OK? And by how much can I chop the stems back? Sorry for all these questions ... still a novice! ... cheers ...
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Post by piggingardener on Sept 20, 2006 11:38:46 GMT
I too have a purple sage that has been in my current garden for 10 years. It's more like a small tree! I hack it back quite hard and it thrives. My soil is more of a loam on the acidic side. If you're worried, cuttings strike really easily. Cut it back and use your trimmings for cuttings.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2006 13:24:46 GMT
If we have another frosty winter it will tip all the soft growth which will start now, its better to try Spring & pop a few bits in for cuttings. If you use the sage in cooking why not pick bigger bits each time?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2006 7:12:39 GMT
Hijack alert ....... i grew my little pot of sage from seed this year and it's doing fine apart from what i think is powdery mildew which i can't understand at all living where i do. it's hardly hot and dry !  i've been removing the affected leaves but there are always more affected the next time i look. it was sitting close to the courgettes so could have caught it from them i suppose. what to do ?? please. ;D |
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