Wood sage
Salvia × sylvestris
An ornamental plant, planted April to May or September to November.
In September: cut back the wood sage. It can be planted now.
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Wood sage, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown wood sage. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Lift and divide the wood sage. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Cut the wood sage back hard after flowering. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none |
| Cut back the wood sage. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown wood sage April to May, and September to November, 30 to 45cm apart. Strong sources: RHS and Jacksons Nurseries.
Lift and divide the wood sage
Every 2 to 3 years, not every year.
Usually March to May. Strong source: RHS.
Cut the wood sage back hard after flowering
Gardeners call this the Hampton hack.
Almost to the ground, straight after its first flowers. Fresh leaves follow, and often a second flush of flowers.
Usually June to July. Moderate source: RHS.
Cut back the wood sage
Cut to near ground level after the first flowers; in cold, exposed gardens delay the autumn cut until spring.
Usually July, and September to November. Moderate source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Wood sage” comes from.