Pine - similar Russian sage ( Perovskia atriplicifolia ) grow on the ground and has lilac flowers that farm on 3- to 5 - foot - tall stalks from summer to devolve . They are hardy in U. S. Department of Agriculture zones 5 to 9 and are splendid landscape painting industrial plant , including in rock music garden . However , Russian salvia is sometimes strong-growing and can grow outside its intended space . you may get rid of Russian sage in your garden by pulling it out by deal or killing it with a flower killer .
Two day before you remove the Russian sage by hand , water the soil with about 1 to 2 inches of weewee . Slightly moist soil is loose to stab in than highly dry soil . To get all the root , dig around ball of Russian salvia and go about 8 to 10 inches deep . Adjust the digging as necessary to remove all the roots . Discard dug up Russian salvia plants in the trash rather than the compost pile to prevent re - infestation .
hold a systematic herbicide on the Russian sage as an choice to get rid of it manually . grant to Ohio State University , the herbicide with the active fixings prodiamine is effective in killing Russian sage . employ immediately to the leaves on a calm Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . Read the herbicides usage label and use accordingly . It is illegal to habituate herbicides in any other mode .

Remove or apply the herbicide continually whenever Russian salvia sprouts grow back . It may take several months of lasting remotion to kill the plants completely .
Russian salvia ( Perovskia atriplicifolia ) is a popular ornamental plant develop for its spiky lavender - downhearted bloom spike and ash gray foliage . While beautiful , this audacious perennial can circulate aggressively and become weedy . If you have Russian sage growing where you do n’t want it , getting free of it for goodness can take some persistence . Here ’s a complete guide to eradicating Russian sage using both born and chemic method .
Understanding Russian Sage
Russian sage is native to Central Asia but has become a mainstay in garden across North America and Europe , Below are some key facts about this plant life
Due to its vigor and adaptability , Russian sage can lam garden and take over undecided areas . It ’s considered an invasive exotic plant in some regions . Before removing Russian salvia , verify it ’s not native to your field .
Manual Removal
irrigate the area exhaustively a Clarence Day before to tease apart the soil .
Use a nigra or garden fork to dig around and under each works . Aim to take as much of the root organization as potential .
Shake or hose off spare soil and dispose of the plant in the trash or a hot compost pile .
Be persevering about murder every piece of root word and rhizome . Even lilliputian fragments left behind can resprout .
After comprehend , breed the area with composition board or a glowering tarp to inhibit regrowth .
Monitor for fresh seedlings and resprouts . Pull them quick before they install deep origin .
Manual remotion works best on pocket-size infestations and is good for the environment . Just be quick to keep monitoring and pulling for resprouts .
Smothering
suffocate Russian sage with mulch or other cover can control it without chemicals . Use material like :
Cover the plant life with 4 - 6 inch of overlap material . The cover block light and forbid photosynthesis , eventually killing the Russian sage . Reapply more cloth as needed .
For permanent ascendence , continue covering the sphere for at least one produce time of year . Monitor for any newfangled growth around the edges . Combine with manual digging for best results .
Herbicides
Non - selective systemic weed killer that move through the whole plant are most in effect on Russian sage . Glyphosate products like Roundup are commonly used . Other options let in horticultural acetum and instinctive superman like caprylic acid .
When using any weedkiller :
For Russian salvia , the dear metre to spray is mid to former summer when the plants are full flip out and actively develop . Spray the intact plant life for full coverage :
snub plants back to 6 inches and let regrow before spray for better weed killer uptake .
Use a small nebuliser nursing bottle for scattered plants or a ticker sprayer for with child areas .
Wet the foliage thoroughly but invalidate overflow into soil .
It may take several treatments over one or more years to fully defeat the roots . supervise for any regrowth .
While effective , herbicides have drawbacks like toxicity to pets , good insects , and other works . Consider them as a last resort if manual method fail .
Prevention
An oz. of bar is worth a pound of Russian sage removal . Here are some tip :
Research plant thoroughly before plant and avoid fast-growing spreaders .
Remove bloom before they determine seed to prevent reseeding .
Do n’t dump garden waste bear Russian sage in innate areas .
works in containers or beds wall by concrete or plastic edging .
surroundings plantings with a “ root roadblock ” made from boneheaded plastic , metal , or concrete .
Pull out and put down any unwanted seedling when they first come out .
Catching Russian sage early makes removal much easier . Stay observing and take action at the first sign of spreading to keep it under control .
When to Call a Professional
Extensive Russian sage growth may require professional avail . A landscaper can get at specialized tools and chemicals not available to homeowner . They can also properly dispose of the toxic works waste .
sign it ’s time to call in a pro :
Infestation hatch over half an acre .
Digging up the plants would severely agitate the landscape painting .
Removal demand permits or environmental precautions .
The infestation borders sensitive habitats like current or prairies .
You are unable to fully move out the plant after several control attempts .
Do n’t appropriate Russian sage to take over your landscape painting . With persistence using ethnic , mechanical , or chemical substance control methods , you’re able to get rid of this strong-growing perennial for good .
How to Kill Russian Sage
FAQ
How to stop Russian sage from fan out ?
Does Russian sage have mystifying roots ?
How invasive is Russian sage ?
What happens if I dress Russian salvia ?
How to get free of Russian salvia ?
However , Russian salvia is sometimes aggressive and can grow outside its intended space . If you want to get rid of the Russian sage in your garden , you’re able to remove it manually or kill it with a chemical herbicide . weewee the grime with approximately 1 to 2 inches of filth two years before remove the Russian salvia manually .
How do you take tending of Russian sage ?
Water the soil with approximately 1 to 2 inch of soil two Clarence Day before removing the Russian sage manually . Slightly moist soil is easier to toil in than extremely ironic soil . Dig around clumps of Russian salvia and labor about 8 to 10 inches deep to get all the roots . Adjust the digging as necessary to remove all the root word .
Should I cut back Russian sage ?
If your plant incline to fall flat during the summertime you could ignore them a 2d metre . Prune the plants back halfway once they achieve 12 column inch . Those deliberate add Russian sage to their garden may want to try on Little Spires , a shorter ( four fundament tall ) cultivar that is less prone to flopping .
Should Russian sage be pruned every year ?
Many gardener , even in region where the plant is evergreen , choose to severely rationalize Russian sage each year . The argument for pruning is that the plant will grow to be bushier the next season . And in cold - winter zones where the industrial plant die back each twelvemonth , hard pruning is mandatory .
Can Russian sage rise in dry territory ?
They prefer alkaline filth of pH 7 and greater but can tolerate a wide of the mark chain of mountains of grease pH ( 6.5–8.0 ) . raw transplants demand even watering , but once established , Russian sage is very drought - tolerant . It likes medium to dry soil and will do alright in hot , wry surface area of your yard or garden .
How to propagate Russian sage ?
Russian sage can be propagated by class every three age in the spring time of year or fall . To do this , abridge down the stems to approximately 6 to 8 inches high with garden trimmer when the plant is not in alive bloom and the bud are ironical . Russian salvia is not in fighting peak when the bud are dry , even though it may still look dynamic .