Most perennials are very forgiving :). While I have not grown sage, I have grown coneflowers and they will come back just fine in the spring. In fact most of my perennials I always cut down to the ground or leave just a few inches. It helps to deter diseases and insects that would otherwise find a nice home all winter in your plants. Others may have differing opinions about this I'm sure. But I have never had any problems doing this, as long as you do it in the fall or early winter when the plants are not so acitively growing and starting to wind down.

I normally cut my russian sage back almost to the ground every winter and they return each year with no problem.

I had a similar experience last year. The developer paid some guy to kill the weeds in all of the empty lots in our subdivision. Instead of mowing them down, he chose to use a big tank of 2-4D on a 4 wheeler. It happened to be a very windy day. Well, when he got to the lot next to ours, I made sure I was literally standing next to my veggie garden, which is in the front yard. He stopped and came over to me, and I told him I would gladly cut the weeds along the property line myself, if he would not spray that stuff. He agreed, but I still had some damage to some perennials and herbs from the wind blowing some of that stuff into my yard. The developer got a rather unpleasant phone call from me the next day! Guess what? This year, they mowed the empty lots : )

If he just cut yours back, I'm sure they will be fine though.

Bonnie

But not all perennials are created equal :-) Perovskia - Russian sage - is not a sage at all and is in fact a woody based subshrub that is treated as a perennial in colder climates. Those woody stems do not mature or ripen in colder zones and cutting it back now puts the plant at great risk from winter cold damage. Like a number of other woody based perennials/subshrubs - lavenders, lavatera (tree mallows), hardy fuchsias, caryopteris, etc. - Russian sage should not be cut back until new growth is visible in mid to late spring. And then only to 6" or so. All you can do now is hope for the best.

I agree with gardengal48, this is really a subshrub. I would not cut it back, but I have seen it cut back with now apparent harm. It usually re-sprouts. But cutting the woody and base parts is not helping the plant any, for sure.

that should be "with NO apparent harm". Even though I re-read my posts I never catch my mistakes. It all sounds right in my head...

Thanks for all who posted. I'm glad that it will make it.

About the russian sage I have, the stems/branches that were left are like 1/2 thick old wood.

I'll let you know in spring. :)

Thanks again!

I just accidentally ran two of my 1 yr old russian sage plants over with my riding mower. I am heartbroken. They are down to only about an inch from the ground now. I don't feel as hopeful but perhaps, since it is spring, they may survive. I will miss that lovely fragrance at my front door this year.

@HU-843007390, sorry ton hear that. But I feel your Russian sage should come back, maybe not a big plant this year but it should survive. I have one too. The smell is too strong to me but I love the hazy mist when it is in bloom. Good luck!