styling a sage (Salvia officinalis)

I need ad vice on how to make it appear older.
here it is ... hopefully



this branch is kinda weird

I like the movement but it seems like the tree is still young.
just wondering if someone could help   
Andrew

The base and lower trunk look plenty old. I think if you shortened the branches a LOT, you'd get a smaller, but older-looking plant.

I just dont know if it will backbud.
thank you for the advice,
andrew

I don't either, but it is an herb. It should.

Bonsaiteen wrote:I need ad vice on how to make it appear older.
here it is ... hopefully

I like the movement but it seems like the tree is still young.
 just wondering if someone could help   
      Andrew

Cut  the bottom branch back to about 3-4 inches from it's base and see if it back buds.  I think that branch needs to go anyway.  Take the top branch closest to the trunk, the one pointing straight up, and bend it back to the trunk base.  Make it wiggle and undulate.  You probably need to wrap the branch so it will not break as I remember sage being brittle. Cut the rest of it off.

Here's a crude virt.

Or even . . .



. . . with a change of planting angle.

actually this was half a plant. it was planted three years ago. when I dug it up (or pulled it out) I divided the thing. that's why there's deadwood.

JimLewis wrote:Or even . . .



. . . with a change of planting angle.

Assuming it will bud back there. If it buds back i'd chop it even shorter. I did the virt to suggest what could be done with what is there.

this is another branch (circled area)

an this is from the back

again thanks for all the advice

Twisted Trees wrote:Here's a crude virt.

sometimes I wish certain plants were that flexable. sages aren't the wood would crack instead of bend, like rhododendron.

Andrew,

could you locate an expendable sage, and experiment on that instead?

Secondly, fertilise for a month, say late spring and then attempt to cut back on on one branch.
Get it to grow well first, and then attempt a cut.

What about grafting ?

Best of luck and just take your time.
Later.
Khaimraj

I believe that sage do back bud but as stated I would confirm by trying it on something in the garden which is expendable. I can confirm that thyme doesn't back bud unless there is foliage on the branch, and even then it is not always guaranteed.

here's how it looks now.

I need a branch there

the upper branch is rooting in water right now.

it doesn t back bud to my experience

I think it's funny that whenever I read that a plant usually won't backbud, it backbuds.
lavender normally won't backbud normally, but the same lavender will when it's growing vigorusly.