Russian Sage Care Tips For Growing Russian Sage Plant

Russian sage needs full sun to perform its best. Give it a little shade, and plants tend to flop open as stems stretch for sunlight. Choose a location with hot, intense sun, even as hot as the space between sidewalk and street or a strip along a driveway. Russian sage likes sun and heat.

1. How do you take care of Russian sage?
2. When Should Russian sage be cut back?
3. Can Russian sage be potted?
4. Does Russian sage come back every year?
5. Does Russian Sage bloom all summer?
6. How do you winterize Russian sage?
7. Is Russian sage toxic to dogs?
8. How do you keep Russian sage under control?
9. What is Russian sage good for?
10. What can I plant next to Russian sage?
11. How many hours of sun does Russian sage need?
12. Does Russian Sage attract bees?
13. Why does Russian sage fall over?
14. Is Russian sage fast growing?
15. Does Russian sage like sun or shade?
16. Should sage be cut back?

How do you take care of Russian sage?

Watering care for Russian sage plants is minimal. In fact, Russian sage thrives in dry soil and rarely needs watering once established. Scatter a handful of general-purpose fertilizer or a shovelful of compost around each plant every other year in late fall. North of USDA Zone 6, provide a 2-inch (5 cm.)

When Should Russian sage be cut back?

In areas with mild winters, tackle pruning Russian sage after flowers fade and when winter settles in. You can give plants a hard prune at this point, cutting plants to 6 to 12 inches tall, if you don't want to see stems all winter long. Otherwise, wait to do a hard prune in late winter or very early spring.

Can Russian sage be potted?

Russian sage is a tall plant, so use a pot with a sturdy base. Any pot is fine as long as it has at least one drainage hole in the bottom. ... Use a lightweight, well-drained potting mix. Potted Russian sage is likely to rot in soggy, poorly drained soil.

Does Russian sage come back every year?

Description. Russian sage belongs to a class of shrubs called subshrubs. New growth comes each year from a woody base, and flowering is on the new growth. Remove the old growth, which usually dies back in winter, in early spring.

Does Russian Sage bloom all summer?

Russian sage is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant shrub, making it a great choice for xeriscaping. Its long blooming period is valued by those who seek a flower bed that remains in bloom throughout the growing season. This bush produces panicles of small, bluish-lavender flowers throughout the summer.

How do you winterize Russian sage?

1. Water Russian sage deeply in late autumn, as moist soil protects the roots in chilly weather.
2. Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch evenly around the Russian sage plants. ...
3. Allow spent Russian sage plants to remain intact in autumn, and it will add interest to the winter landscape.

Is Russian sage toxic to dogs?

Unlike some herbs which can cause digestive upset in large doses, sage is recognized by the ASPCA as being non-toxic for dogs. You should still limit your dog's intake to a few leaves a day, but there's no danger of poisoning.

How do you keep Russian sage under control?

There are several things you can try to limit its unruly growth. Contact herbicides are one option. These are herbicides that kill only the part of the plant to which they are applied. Unlike translocated (systemic) herbicides, they will not move through the plant killing other parts of that plant.

What is Russian sage good for?

Russian sage is a useful medicinal herb for soothing an upset stomach, treating a cold or flu, or washing a wound. Russian sage is stimulating and aromatic, and its volatile oils are useful for clearing sinuses or soothing a head cold with an inhalation steam.

What can I plant next to Russian sage?

Cheat Sheet

• Russian sage attracts butterflies and bees and is dramatic as an unsung cut flower.
• Combines perfectly with other low water plants like lavender, sedum, and ornamental grasses, even pairs nicely with bold leafed succulents like large agaves and aloes.

How many hours of sun does Russian sage need?

Russian sage needs full sun to perform its best. Give it a little shade, and plants tend to flop open as stems stretch for sunlight. Choose a location with hot, intense sun, even as hot as the space between sidewalk and street or a strip along a driveway. Russian sage likes sun and heat.

Does Russian Sage attract bees?

However, everything about Russian sage makes it a perfect plant for your pollinator garden. ... It is low-maintenance, drought tolerant, and is not eaten by deer or rabbits. At the same time, it is popular with all sorts of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hover flies.

Why does Russian sage fall over?

Russian sage can flop in mid-season, once it has attained the bulk of its normal height. Partial sun conditions can cause the plant to “stretch” a bit, looking for the sun. Such excessive growth can cause the stems to become top-heavy, and then flop.

Is Russian sage fast growing?

It does well in alkaline conditions (pH > 7) and does not tolerate boggy, acid soils. Spacing: Space Russian sage 24” apart at planting time to allow for the eventual wide growth of the plant. Russian sage is a slow grower and does not spread, creating a woody structure of stems at the base of the plant.

Does Russian sage like sun or shade?

Russian sage is at the top of the list of those fuss-free garden perennials that you simply buy, plant, and enjoy. Just give them full sun and well-drained soil, then sit back and delight in their tranquil beauty.

Should sage be cut back?

Sage and other subshrub plants should never be cut back to the ground, according to Fine Gardening. Also, Fine Gardening states that culinary sage plants should never be pruned in fall or winter because new growth is likely to be damaged or killed during cold periods.