Sage Does it need pruning? or is it dying?

My sage was lush up to a few weeks ago. I was surprised to see it was evergreen. Well whether it was the frost or not but it looks as though its dying. Should I prune it or leave well alone. It was getting a bit out of hand in the raised bed anyway.

 

Jean, I would think it was the frost. There is more cold weather on the way so I would not cut it back just yet.

 

Thanks. I will do.

 

Hi Jean I have some sage along our front garden path and seems to be doing ok it wasn't hurt by the really bad frost we had although it is in a very sheltered spot so I think that helped it.

As David says don't take any risks just yet with cutting it back wait until it starts some new growth and if all else fails you can always replace it with a new plant, I'm sure some others on here might just have to do that with a few of their own plants after that nasty cold snap we had..... but that's what gardening is all about sometimes you win some and sometime you loose some.Hel.xxx.

 

Mine flagged last week, but looks OK this a.m.

 

Will do thanks.

 

In mid April, once the sap is rising and the frosts are over you can cut it back.

 

Before you prune the sage back. Sage gets woody, and straggly as it gets older, and it doesn't take kindly to being pruned back on to old wood. I find the best way to keep a compact healthy bush is to layer a few stems each spring. Find a stem with some healthy shoots on it and pin the stem down firmly on to the soil, or better put a bit of soil on it, and a brick on top of that. Then leave it alone. After a few months the stem will root under the brick, and that will be the start of a new bush. At the end of the growing season you should be able to sever the connection to the old plant. You can then get rid of the straggly bits on the old plant.