How can I make my Salvias bushier?

I have various types of Salvia but I find the Nachtvlinders particularly spindly, how can I get them to bush out? also I have a beautiful peachy coloured one that has grown almost like a 'standard', it has a nice sturdy stem with a lot going on on top that I would like to encourage more down below, an ideas please. tia

 

If you reduce them in size by 1/2 to 2/3, they will bush out nicely.

 

I gave some of mine an early Chelsea chop about three weeks ago and they have been transformed from tall leggy potential wind hazards to sturdy, bushy plants!

 

Gosh, spindly is not a word I'd ever use to describe my Nachtvlinder. More like floppy, unruly, spreading and suckering mop

As others have said I would maybe give it a bit of a chop to make it bushier. Is it getting enough sun?

 

Agree with the Chelsea chop suggestion

Any chance of a photo of the peachy coloured one ? Without seeing it, I hesitate to advise cutting it back if it only has the one stem. It may well bush out from the bottom, but I don't think I have ever seen a shrubby salvia with just a single stem.

 

Sorry @AnniD, I did not make myself clear, it is not supposed to have just one stem, it has landed up (almost) lollipop style due to me having to cut bits off during bad weather etc. It does have a few bits trying to come out from the base so I am sure it will spread if cut back. I just had no idea when was the right time to do it without loosing flowers. I will try and take cuttings as it is my favourite.

 

Thank you for all of your replies, I will give them a 'chop' today, I was hesitant as to when to do it. Alas, @Jess91 my Nachtvlinders never seem to get strong woody stems like my other varieties.

 

I cut my ten year old S. Nachtvlinder back
about ten days ago … I cut it back by about two thirds at this time every year. it grows huge and occupies a space at least 1m x 1m.

This is what it looks like this morning.


Soon it’ll look like this (the purple one in the foreground)


If yours doesn’t grow woody are you sure it’s a Nachtvlinder?

 

My Nachtvlinder would grow woody if I let it, but because it has turned out to be a thug, spreads underground and seems to behave more like a perennial, I chop most of it back to the ground in spring as well as hoiking out the bits that have gone where I don't want it. I do have a piece in a pot that gets less brutal treatment.
Now that I think on it, its growth habit is very like that of Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, which has the same spreading-underground thuggishness.

 

That's a nice combination there @Dovefromabove. Is that another Salvia behind the Nachtvlinder?

 

Thank you @Plantminded yes it’s S. gregii ‘Icing Sugar’

Buy Salvia Icing Sugar - Salvia greggii plants from Norfolk Herbs

Very similar in growth habit and requirements to ‘Nachtvlinder’ … but a bit more upright and less sprawly..

 

Thank you @Dovefromabove .

 

@Dovefromabove, impressed to see your before and after photos, I am beginning to doubt what mine are now although I do recall buying Nachtvlinders! I am a huge fan of Salvias but having lost a lot a while ago due to bad weather I keep saying I am not going to buy any more but it is very tempting and I feel the urge coming on.

 

Placed an order with Norfolk herbs this morning.
I blame @Dovefromabove .

 

Guilty as charged.

I’ve visited them
and was impressed.