How to Prune Mexican Sagebrush

Mexican sage bushes (Salvia leucantha) feature gray-green foliage and graceful stems covered in fuzzy white and purple flowers. They bloom profusely in late summer. This sage grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, and often remains evergreen in frost-free areas. Mexican sage thrives with minimal maintenance if provided with full sun and moderately moist soil. Timely pruning helps keep the sage attractive and healthy, although it requires severe pruning only in areas where frost occurs.

Pruning shears
Straw mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Cut back the flower stalks after the blooms begin to wilt. Remove each flower stalk at its base. Dead flower removal improves the appearance of the sage.
- 2
  Trim out dead damaged or diseased leaves at any time during the growing season. Cut back the damaged stem to the nearest healthy portion, making the cut within ¼ inch of a leaf.
- 3
  Shear back the entire sage bush to within 6 inches of the ground after the first hard frost in fall kills back the foliage. Remove the clippings from the garden bed and dispose of or compost them. In frost-free climates, cut back the shrub to half its height so it stays bushy and compact.
- 4
  Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of straw mulch over the top of the sage after cutting it back in fall in climates that experience winter freezing. The mulch insulates the roots and protects them from winter damage. Pull the mulch back from the stems after new growth emerges in early spring.

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