How to prune golden sage

Early spring before new growth; light trim after flowering in summer. Cut soft green stems back by one-third to one-half using clean shears, always leaving several sets of leaves on each stem. Shear spent flower spikes back to the foliage mound immediately after bloom to redirect energy into leaf production.

Annually (main renovation in spring); deadhead after each flowering flush. Golden sage needs annual pruning to stay bushy and productive. Left unpruned it becomes woody and leggy. Cut stems back by up to half in early spring before new growth emerges, and shear lightly after flowering to remove spent spikes and encourage fresh foliage. Never cut into old bare wood — it rarely regenerates.

Cut soft green stems back by one-third to one-half using clean shears, always leaving several sets of leaves on each stem. Shear spent flower spikes back to the foliage mound immediately after bloom to redirect energy into leaf production.