Pruning For Better Health~

Your plants require tweaking in early spring to flourish and give back a 100%.

Herbs are very tolerant of snipping, in fact the more you snip, the more new and hardy growth you will have. So don't be afraid to cut them back. Even if you can't use the trimmings just let them fall to the ground and they will compost back into the soil for another level of good plant health.

Thyme, sage, oregano, and rosemary will get very woody too quickly if not kept trimmed back to a tidy form. Woody means too much stem between the base and the top of the plant with no green growing there. The closer to the soil your thyme, oregano, and sage can grow the better.

Rosemary will make a lovely bush form by spreading out instead of up if you keep it trimmed properly.

My sage beds are about 18" high, a good height for balance and to keep it from bolting...going to flower too quickly.

Once your herbs bolt they think the growing season is over and will start the process of dying back. So be very careful to keep the tops pinched in order to avoid early bolting.

Sage Tea is wonderful in the spring...helps control the pollen/allergy effect of congestion from sneezing and drainage.

SAGE TEA~

A handful of clean sage leaves.
2-4 cups of boiling water.
Steep the leaves for 6 to 8 minutes.
Strain and add a small amount of stevia or honey.

Happy gardening~

Bea Kunz