Pruning Woodland sage 'Ostfriesland'

Salvia nemorosa 'Ostfriesland' benefits from two distinct pruning sessions each year. The first, and most important, is deadheading in July or August after the main flush of late spring and early summer flowers fades. Cut back the spent flower stems to just above a pair of healthy leaves lower down on the plant—usually by about half to two-thirds of the stem length. This encourages a second, often generous, flush of blooms in late summer and early autumn. Use clean secateurs or garden shears for this job. If you leave the spent spikes in place, the plant will set seed and stop flowering. The second pruning takes place in March, at the start of the growing season. Cut back all the old stems to around 5–10 cm above ground level, just above the fresh basal growth that emerges in spring. This tidies the plant, removes any winter-damaged or tatty foliage, and makes way for strong new shoots. Some gardeners prefer to leave the old stems standing over winter for structure and to provide shelter for insects, then cut back in early spring—this works well and causes no harm. 'Ostfriesland' does not require complex pruning; it's naturally compact and doesn't become woody or sprawling like some salvias. Avoid cutting into completely bare wood with no visible leaf buds, as regrowth may be slow. Regular deadheading is the key to keeping this salvia flowering reliably from late spring right through summer.