Russian Sage dying back in June, please help

Discussion in 'Annuals, Biennials, Perennials, Ferns and Bulbs' started by leafy, Jun 27, 2009.

  1. leafy

    leafy Member

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    I am gardening for hire this year and last. My client has large, well established, woody Russian Sage plants which were the glory of the garden last summer. I didn't know that I should prune the Russian Sage back and so didn't. This spring I noticed that the dead branch ends were just sitting there, not getting any new leaves so I did some internet research and learned that I should have pruned it. So I went, late as it was, and pruned back the dead branch ends. I left any new leaf buds that were starting part way down the branches, pruning to just above these. I later observed that some whole branches were just dead, and these were large, (about 3/4" in diameter) old, woody branches that were very much alive last summer. Also, on many of the branches I had pruned back to the new leaf growth, the new leaves have started to shrivel. Yesterday I cut out all the old dead branches, which left a huge hole in what was recently a large and vibrant shrub. It is now more hole than shrub. There is some healthy looking new growth in some places, but I'm worried about those shriveling new leaves. I hope someone can tell me what is going on and what I should do, now and in the future. Thanks!
     
  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Some kind of pathogenic infestation.
     
  3. leafy

    leafy Member

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    Thanks so much for your reply. Do you know for sure? Is that the only possibility? In that case, do you think it can recover or will I have to remove it?
     

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