Caring for Salvia

Question

DG

Caring for Salvia

by

Daphne Green

8 years ago

6

I am an absolute fan of Salvia and have lots of Neon and Hot Lips dotted around the garden in containers. I've always been looking for plants that give colour over an extended period and Salvia really delivers!

I'm not sure how to best care for it with pruning though. I read some rather confusing advice regarding when to do it and so am now a little nervous of damaging the plants. I have some established plants which are looking rather woody (and haven't really been pruned properly ever!) and some new plants I have added this year.

Would really appreciate some advice on this.

With thanks, Daphne.

Andy McIndoe · Answer 1 · 4th August 2016, 16:58:21

Hi Daphne These shrubby salvias are great value - they flower for ages and are great in a sunny spot. In winter the plants become dormant and look like rather wiry bare twigs. By spring you will wonder if they are ever going to grow, but then tiny leaves start to appear on the stems. At that stage I recommend you trim them back by half or even a little lower. You need to promote branching low down on the plants otherwise they become leggy and the brittle branches break under their own weight. As woody salvias flower on the current season's growth - encouraging new shoots at the beginning of the year is the thing to do.

Elspeth Briscoe · Answer 2 · 5th August 2016, 21:14:24

Thanks Andy! Andy is one of our experts - Andy McIndoe is the former Managing Director of Hilliers Nurseries - the UK's largest tree specialist and garden centre business. Andy holds the record for the most Gold Medals at The Chelsea Flower Show and is a well known author and broadcaster.

Daphne Green · Answer 3 · 27th March 2017, 12:16:46

Hi Andy and Elspeth, So, 8 months later and with a beautiful weekend, I ventured out into the garden properly for the first time this year. I cut back all the woody tops of the salvia and already they look healthier! But I wonder if I should have taken them a little further. I was a little nervous to cut too many of the branches that had leaves. We have some that are very tall and leggy - would you recommend those are cut back more? Thank you again for your wonderful answer previously :) Daphne.

Allie Brown · Answer 4 · 28th March 2017, 18:27:16

I'd love to know this too, Daphne! We've got some salvia at home and I've always just left it to go a bit mad. :)

Andy McIndoe · Answer 5 · 28th March 2017, 20:08:09

Hi Daphne and Allie. These semi-woody salvias always look awful after winter. I think you've done the right thing, Wait and see how they look once the buds start to break. If the most vigorous shoots look like they are coming from further down on the stems, cut back to there. Otherwise just let them grow, I normally cut back by one third to a half. Andy

Daphne Green · Answer 6 · 29th March 2017, 15:11:03

Hi Andy & Allie, Andy, that is wonderful. Thank you for your reply. I'm looking forward to the beautiful flowers arriving again this year. They really do make a huge difference to our garden with the lovely long-lasting colour. Allie, good luck with yours! Many thanks again. Daphne

Caring for Salvia

Caring for Salvia

Daphne Green

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