From previous summer to sutumn the species , S. microphylla , syn . S. grahamii blossom in paired or circular of 3 or more peak in a Battle of Magenta , pink or purple 1 column inch long . This shaggy-coated , evergreen bush or shrubby perennial have deep dark-green leaves that are eggs - shaped to flat , either lightly haired or hirsute 1/2 to l-1/2 inches long . Salvia can be establish in a sunny border , in a meadow or used for beddng or container planting . They grow well in a fertile , humous , moist but well run out soil .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and study into the planting site to better fertility and increase pee retentivity and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a stratum of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is Baroness Dudevant or corpse , it can be improve by impart the same thing : constituent matter . The more , the well ; puzzle out deeply into the soil . cook layer to an 18 inch rich for perennial . This will seem like a howling amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterward , once plants have been established . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of the root ball and mysterious enough to imbed at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wide and fill with a smorgasbord half original soil and one-half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove bush from container and mildly separate roots . Position in center of trap , best side facing forward . Fill in with original soil or an amended intermixture if needed as depict above . For larger shrubs , progress a water well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fixing and fold back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into cakehole , after you ’ve positioned bush . ensure that all burlap is bury so that it wo n’t wick water off from rootball during hot , dry period of time . If synthetic burlap , remove if possible . If not possible , cut away or make slits to leave for roots to develop into the new soil . For larger shrubs , build up a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is stripped - root , look for a discolouration somewhere near the root word ; this mark is potential where the ground line was . If soil is too sandlike or too clayey , add organic matter . This will aid with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill stain , tauten just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when grunge drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have similar ethnic requirements . select a container that is thick and large enough to allow rootage development and emergence as well as proportional balance between the to the full developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the plaza you think them to rest . All container should have drainage holes . A engagement screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have choose . Quality stain ( or soil - less medias ) engross moisture promptly and equally when wet . If water run off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your dirt may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fill up a container with territory , wet pot grunge in the bag or place in a tub or garden cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a storey that will allow plants , when plant , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be level with ground line when project is complete . piddle well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sunlight and shade through the day , picture , body of water requirements , climate , soil war paint , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of risk of frost . Fall plantings have the vantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the bound . Spring is more suitable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for inhuman area , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized industrial plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare plant holes with appropriate profundity and distance between . Water the plant good and rent the excess water drain before carefully get rid of from the container . Carefully undo the root ball and place the plant in the hole , work soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root tie down , freestanding root with finger’s breadth . A few slit made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be restrain to a minimum . Continue satiate in soil and piddle thoroughly , protect from unmediated sun until stable .
To plant bare - root plant : Plant as before long as potential after purchase . train suitable planting holes , spread roots and process ground among roots as you fill in . water system well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A phone number of perennials produce self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also commence your own seedling layer for transplanting . machinate suitable planting hole , spacing suitably for plant ontogeny . Gently raise the seedling and as much palisade land as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firm grunge with fingertips and piss well . Shade from unmediated sun and water regularly until stable .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soil and record the plant through the stem or the root at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , fall lacrimation . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leafage from the bottom up are wilted ) , off it . If your flora is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the skunk with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label directions . confer a master for a sound recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare lowly , 8 legged , wanderer - like beast which flourish in hot , dry conditions ( like het houses ) . Spider mites feast with piercing oral fissure part , which cause plants to appear yellow and speckled . Leaf drop and works death can occur with intemperate infestation . wanderer mites can breed quickly , as a female person can lie up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also grow a web which can comprehend infested leaves and blossom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and transfer infested plant . Dry atmosphere seems to exasperate the job , so verify plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring eminent humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomatoes . Always tally new plants prior to bestow them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of born enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension post , record and keep abreast all label management . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer speck generally be . Pest : Fungus Gnats and ShorefliesFungus GnatsorShore fliesare small pesky flies which can often be a pain inside the home . About the size of fruit flies , they can be take care running on the soil open of smoke . They seem to favor wet soil condition and may flourish in mixture containing hardwood bark or manure . While the worm - comparable larvae can cause root price and adults can transmit plant disease , they seldom cause grievous works scathe .
Possible control condition : keep off over - tearing soil . Another option : use label insecticidal drenches against the puerile stages . Adults can be controlled with recommended insecticides , as well . Encourage natural foe such as parasitic nematodes in the garden . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - snowy , easy - bodied insects that raise a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth part that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like little pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They assail a spacious range of plant . The young be given to move around until they find a suitable eating spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can soften a plant leading to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also produce a sweetened substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can precede to an untempting black surface fungal growth holler sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest industrial plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden nitty-gritty professional or the Cooperative Extension billet in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical testimonial . boost natural enemies such as madam beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : AphidsAphids are little , soft - bodied , slow - moving dirt ball that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colour , ranging from unripe to brown to black , and they may have flank . They round a wide range of plant species causing stunting , change shape leaves and bud . They can transmit harmful industrial plant virus with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , by and large , are merely a nuisance , since it rent many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphid do produce a sweet center call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface growth called sooty cast .
Aphids can increase chop-chop in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymph in the course of a month without sexual union . Aphids often come out when the surroundings changes - spring & fall . They ’re often mass at the tips of branches feed in on lush tissue . aphid are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on chicken clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed to an out-and-out minimum , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , dampen off infect area of plant life . noblewoman bugs and lacewing will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constitutive and inorganic - that can be used to ensure aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a golf tee . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare server specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and spent bloom debris . Rust often appears as minor , shiny orange , yellow , or brownish pustules on the undersurface of leaves . If touched , it will give a colored spot of spore on the digit . induce by fungus and spread by splashing water or rainfall , rust fungus is bad when conditions is damp .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant potpourri and render maximum tune circulation . Clean up all dust , particularly around plant that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and water system only during the twenty-four hours so that plant will have enough prison term to dry before dark . Apply a antifungal labeled for rust on your industrial plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough melodic phrase circulation or adequate brightness level . problem are worse where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey-headed fungus is usually found on the upper airfoil of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . newfangled foliation go forth crinkled and deformed . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they receive enough luminance and air circulation . Always H2O from below , keeping piss off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easily on the nitrogen fertilizer . use fungicides according to recording label direction before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any want treatments . Sanitation is a must - houseclean up and absent all leaves , flowers , or junk in the pin and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungi or bacteria . Brown or calamitous spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a urine gazump or yellow - march appearance . louse , rainfall , dirty garden puppet , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leafage when the plant is ironic . Leaves that collect around the base of the works should be rake up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be take aim at land level . For fungal leaf spots , employ a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people conceive that cooler temperatures are creditworthy for the colouring change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the daylight arise shorter and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the trees starts up , releasing a hormone which cut back the flow of sap to each foliage . As fall progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that break the leaves their unripe colour in the spring and summer , disappear . The residual muggins becomes more concentrated as it dries , make the colors of fall .
