Monday, July 16, 2012

Expert Advice Needed!


What to do, what to do… My black and blue salvia has become over grown and is no longer blooming. I know I need to cut it back. It’s going to leave such a gaping hole in my garden…

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It’s gotten all leggy and it’s not attractive at all. I’ve searched on the internet several times for information to no avail. So I’m calling on the knowledge of my blogger friends.

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Should I chop it all the way to ground or should I cut it back to about 12 inches? Will it only come back from the roots or will it put up new growth from the pieces of material left behind. Surely someone out there has experimented. What is the best course of action? Help!

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13 comments:

  1. Randy, I wouldn't go all the way to the ground. Twelve inches sounds about right. Then, fertilize with something good and organic that doesn't have too much nitrogen. Try that. Don't worry about the hole. It will fill in.~~Dee

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    1. Thanks Dee! Yea I figure it couldn't look much worse. I'll do that. :0)I just wasnt' sure how low to go.

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  2. I agree with Dee about not cutting it back too much. Mine got to the point it was crowding out its neighbors so I pulled it out in clumps, thinning as I went. Though it is very drought tolerant, it will bloom better with adequate moisture and deadheading. Good luck!

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    1. Les,
      I have to thin it out every spring too. I've tried just snipping the tops in the past and that didn't help much. Maybe we will all learn something. :0)

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  3. I agree with the above. It doesn't usually act like a perennial here but last winter was so mild it overwintered for me. I just love this plant and so do the hummingbirds.

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    1. Lisa,
      The humming birds prefer this over anything else in my garden! That's why I want to get it to bloom again. It's probably the major food source for them in my back yard and the blooms are virtually non existent right now.

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  4. I like Dee's advice to not worry about the hole. It should grow back for you in no time with some moisture and nice fertilizer.

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  5. I think regular dead-heading will encourage new flowers. I have different kind of salvia in my garden and I cut it in early autumn or spring by one third. It results in more compact growth and better branching.

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  6. I'd probably just throw some compost on them. They are heavy feeders and look like they could use some food.

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  7. Yep, I'm in agreement.. I just tip those dark stems to the leaf node and mine starts flowering again.. I do agree with a good soaking of liquid fertilizer or work some slow release into a moist soil around the base.... good luck.

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  8. Thanks everyone! I'll snip it back and we'll see what happens. :0)

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  9. Oh My----cannot help you a bit on this one.... We have a similar situation with our big Clematis.... We've had trouble for the past couple of years and have yet been able to find a good solution. We also read and read finding out what to do... One year we cut it almost all of the way back... Lots of growth and green leaves, but not many flowers... Then we tried not cutting it back until Spring... That didn't work either... This year, we're going to cut it back now --and see if we can get some new growth before winter... I'm not sure what works--but it just doesn't bloom much anymore... Other than blooming though, it is quite healthy.....????? A Puzzlement....

    Hope you get some good advice about your salvia...
    Betsy
    Please consider getting rid of your word verification.. It's so darn hard to read. Thanks!

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  10. Most of your answers are what I would have said Randy .. what about cover the hole temporarily with garden art or even some annuals ? .. We would never have one of those beauties be a perennial here and I am amazed at the size of it ! Wow !!
    Joy

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