Salvia Hot Lips

[IamEarthymama]

I bought one of these lovely shrubs last year but totally neglected it over the winter.
It was formerly in a container tucked in next to an edible sage, small olive tree, hardy geranium, all in various sized pots. I have raised it up to take a picture.
It has survived but has become really twiggy. The new growth is all on the ends of branches.
What should I do to restore it to its former bushy look and promote flowering?

Watching, as we have one that is a few years old and very woody at the bottom, we have pruned it back a few times but I guess maybe it's just aging a little.

I am considering taking some cuttings this year and then doing a hard cut back after flowering and seeing how it fairs over winter and next year. I love the plant though so I don't want to loose it.

Placemarking, another one with a woody hot lips

Ooooo Eerrr! missus!

I have searched online and there doesn't seem to be any advice online.
Well, they say cut it right back but I am scared there may only be a baldy twig left!

Cut it back. I did mine a few weeks ago and there are lots of new shoots already. I took mine down to about 6 inches.

Yep - give it a really good haircut. They love it! I do mine a little earlier than this bit have been k own to do it as late as May.

I’ve had mine over 10 years now and I’ll t survived a house move.

Cut hard back (make sure you leave some green growth) and it will reward you all summer.

Mine is one of my very favourite plants!

DeathMetalMum - don’t cut it back over winter. Leave it till next spring and then go for your life! First time I did mine I thought I’d killed it but no, thankfully.

I cut mine back to about 6 inches too. It loved it!

Yep, I'd usually leave last years growth over winter to protect the crown a bit, then cut right back in spring. Pic is not Hot Lips but a hardier Salvia in my garden that has had this treatment and is bushing out again nicely.

Is it too late for a drastic cut? Mine usually springs into action around may and then carries on all through until September at least. Pretty certain we still has some flowers October this year.

I'd definitely cut it back now. I sometimes cut mine back lightly towards the end of summer and get another flush of flowers.

Mine is made up of baldy sticks about a foot long and then the new green growth
So do I cut the green shoots right back?

I planted lots of salvias in the garden last year, all of which I thought were hardy. I had a lovely Hot Lips which flowered all summer. I believe that they are annuals (?) and I hadn't been worried about not seeing any growth this year, but looking at your photos I now am! I don't seem to have any above ground growth on mine. Do you think I've lost them?