hot lips

Valerie-17

I have just joined, because I wanted to know how to prune my hot lips, it's massive, about 5 feet high, and 6 feet across. Well I've read lots of your tips, and found them extremely helpful. I shall do what lots of you have put. I've been a bit worried about pruning it back hard, just in case I killed it off, but now I know thatitis virtually indestructible, I will follow your tips

Borderline

It all depends on your soil type. Whether you have it growing with a lot of soil exposed or whether you have it planted closely with other plants or near a wall or fence. Shrubby Salvias do better planted with shrubby neighbours that keep the soil areas covered. They don't like damp and compacted soils. If your plant has grown that wide, may be cut half of that down to around 3 feet to begin with to see how it responds. 

Dovefromabove

I would wait until the spring, when it begins to put out fresh growth, then cut it back by two thirds. 

AnniD

I wouldn't go too mad just yet , if needs be just reduce it down a bit if you must.Salvias are pretty brittle, I cut mine down just a bit to protect it from storm "Brian" and any others still to come , and then leave it until the Spring when I cut it back.