CHOOSE A VARIETY
Salvias may be annuals, biennials, perennials or herbaceous shrubs with many colours including brilliant hues of white, yellow, blues, purples, pinks and reds. They grow an abundance of flowers that have a tube like appearance which grow all along stalks reaching from the shrub, which can be between 40cm and 3m tall depending on the variety. Their foliage is fragrant with hints of sage and a fruity scent which also can be used as a deterrent for pests in your garden.
DID YOU KNOW: Butterflies and bees, including Australian native stingless bees absolutely love Salvias, planting them will attract these helpful pollinators to your garden!
WHERE TO PLANT
The perfect location for Salvias to grow is somewhere that receives full sun all day, however they can also be planted in part shade. Although this can reduce the shrubs ability to produce less flowers. It is advised to always check the details on your seeds or seedlings when planting as some Salvia varieties do differ.
For features in a pot or as a stand out section in your garden it is ideal to plant a group of salvias together. Remember to allow room for these to grow as they can spread as they develop and become quite large, if this is not what you would like then pruning by half will encourage a smaller plant.
TIP: BEFORE PLANTING YOUR SALVIAS BE SURE TO GIVE THEM A QUICK DUNK IN A BUCKET OF DILUTED NEPTUNE SEAWEED LIQUID. THIS PREVENTS ROOT SHOCK & WILL GIVE THE PLANT A BOOST OF HEALTHY NUTRIENTS.
WATERING
The key to Salvia’s is not to water too much. They prefer to dry out between watering and do not like excessive irrigation. Wet feet are there downfall but by having well drained soil using with plenty of organic matter and a great base like some Katek Superior Potting Mix the Salvia’s will bloom prolifically.
TIP: ALLOW THE PLANT TO FULLY DRY OUT BETWEEN WATERINGS AND DON’T OVERWATER – WATER MORE IN THE HOTTER MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
FERTILISING
Every great garden starts with an organic rich soil that is full of nutrients to help your plants grow healthy and strong from the roots up. We recommend preparing your soil, aerating it by turning it over thoroughly and adding Katek Super Growth or Katek Super Booster will encourage more flowering and growth for your plants.
Regular applications of a seaweed concentrate like Katek Neptune or Super Growth Liquid Fertiliser will also benefit plant growth and health.
As with any flowering plant we recommend a good balanced fertiliser like Katek Rose & Flower will help produce healthy colourful blooms and keep the plants in great condition. It is important to feed the plants regularly as per the directions on the packet, but not to over fertilise as this can mean all growth and not so many blooms. Apply Rose & Flower Fertiliser every 6-8 weeks during Spring and through to Autumn and change to a seaweed liquid over Autumn and Winter to prevent disease.
TIP: A fertiliser like Rose & Flower, based on composted poultry manure is full of live beneficial microbes and rich in plant available, slow release nutrients.
MULCHING
Mulching is a key step to keeping your garden weed free and an easy way to retain moisture. We recommend applying a layer of mulch around 5cm thick over the entire garden, which will then break down over time and go into the soil. Benefiting your plants and soil!
PRUNING
It is ideal to ‘deadhead’ or remove spent flowers of your Salvia spikes as the plant will continue to produce new spikes and new flowers in return.
If your Salvia has become too large for an area or overgrown, it is easy to cut back a third of the plant and this will encourage new growth. It is also a great idea to divide perennial Salvia plants every few years easily by pulling up the plant, divide into clumps with the roots intact and then replant wherever desired.