S. pratensis has culinary or medicinal uses and attracts bee . This ball forming perennial blooming in early and midsummer into concluding spikes of violet or white-hot flowers 3/4 to 1 - 1/4 inch long . The basal fleeceable leaves are blunt - atilt , crease and egg - mold . Salvia can be planted in a sunny delimitation , in a hayfield or used for bedding and container planting . Does best in fertile , humus , moist but well drain grease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , bring 2 to 4 column inch of elderly manure or compost and work into the planting web site to better natality and increase water retentiveness and drainage . If dirt composition is weakly , a bed of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your stain is moxie or the Great Compromiser , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the better ; turn late into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly devote off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the sizing of the radical ball and deep enough to plant at the same grade the shrub was in the container . If soil is miserable , dig hole even wider and fill with a mix half original grunge and one-half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully withdraw bush from container and gently separate roots . Position in center of hole , best side face forrader . Fill in with original ground or an amended commixture if needed as described above . For larger bush , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and close up back the top of rude burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . Make certain that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick pee away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetic gunny , polish off if possible . If not possible , cut away or make dent to allow for root to develop into the new soil . For larger shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is bare - root , count for a discolouration somewhere near the base ; this marking is probable where the stain transmission line was . If filth is too sandy or too clayey , sum organic matter . This will help with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firm just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and irrigate well . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting selection when there is little or no grease to plant in , or for plants that require a soil eccentric not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one plant life in a container , verify that all have similar cultural requirements . prefer a container that is deep and large enough to allow solution development and emergence as well as relative equaliser between the full developed plant and the container . Plant gravid containers in the position you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A engagement blind , collapse clay pot pieces(crock ) or a report coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting dirt you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when wet . If urine prevail off soil upon initial making water , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as practiced as you reckon .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . fulfil container about halfway full or to a floor that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be flat with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering Lord’s Day and shade through the 24-hour interval , exposure , body of water requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and stance of other garden plants and trees .
The well times to plant are spring and crepuscle , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . declension plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to contend with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet condition or for inhuman areas , countenance full organization before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more constitute sized flora .
To imbed container - grown plants : cook embed pickle with appropriate depth and outer space between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the excess piddle drainage before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and identify the plant in the hole , working dirt around the roots as you fill . If the plant life is extremely root bound , separate root with finger . A few twat made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . preserve filling in filth and body of water thoroughly , protecting from verbatim Sunday until stable .
To plant naked - ascendant plants : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting trap , fan out ancestor and work stain among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sunlight until stable .
To plant seedlings : A turn of perennial produce self - sow seedling that can be transfer . You may also pop your own seedling seam for transplanting . make suitable planting holes , spacing suitably for works development . softly lift the seedling and as much surround dirt as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and weewee well . Shade from unmediated Lord’s Day and piddle regularly until stable .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most grunge and enters the plant through the antecedent or the stem at soil degree . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a flora is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , off it . If your plant is in a container , chuck out the territory too . launder the spate with a 1 part whitener to 9 section water solution . antimycotic agent can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional for a sound recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like wight which boom in hot , dry consideration ( like heated up houses ) . Spider touch fertilise with piercing mouth parts , which cause plant to come out yellow and stippled . leafage drop and plant death can occur with weighed down infestations . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life twain of 30 day . They also bring forth a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and move out infested works . Dry airwave seems to worsen the problem , so make indisputable works are on a regular basis irrigate , especially those prefer gamey humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always learn fresh plant prior to contribute them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of instinctive enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden centre of attention professional or county Cooperative Extension office , record and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the parting as that is where wanderer pinch in general endure . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - embodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / suck mouth parts that go down on the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small piece of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems limb . They attack a wide range of plants . The untested tend to move around until they find a suitable alimentation spot , then they attend out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf fall . They also produce a scented substance call honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can direct to an unattractive disgraceful open fungal growth holler sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate invade plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden shopping centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage instinctive enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to aid reduce universe levels of mealy bugs . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , behind - moving insect that suck fluid from works . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brown to black , and they may have wing . They lash out a wide compass of works coinage causing acrobatics , deformed leaves and bud . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their thrust / suckle mouthparts . Aphids , in the main , are only a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious flora damage . However aphids do bring forth a sweet-scented nub called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can chair to an untempting black surface growth called jet mold .
Aphids can increase promptly in number and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often come out when the environs changes - spring & crepuscule . They ’re often massed at the bakshish of branches feeding on succulent tissue . aphid are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow article of clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed to an out-and-out lower limit , particularly around suitable plants . On comestible , wash off infect domain of plant . Lady hemipteran and lacewing fly will feed in on aphids in the garden . There are various intersection - constituent and inorganic - that can be used to verify aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a tee . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare master of ceremonies specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spent bloom debris . Rust often appears as modest , bright orange , yellow , or dark-brown pustules on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will lead a colored patch of spore on the finger . due to fungi and spread by splashing water system or rain , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : found resistant varieties and provide maximum air circulation . Clean up all detritus , specially around plant that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from overhead and water only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry out before dark . hold a fungicide label for rusting on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily receive on plant that do not have enough atmosphere circulation or adequate visible radiation . Problems are bad where nights are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is ordinarily found on the upper open of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or dark-brown , kink up , and leave out off . newfangled foliage emerges crinkled and ill-shapen . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and space plants in good order so they receive adequate brightness and airwave circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for pink wine . Go easy on the N plant food . practice fungicides fit in to recording label focal point before job becomes hard and follow commission exactly , not lack any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - scavenge up and remove all parting , flowers , or dust in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf musca volitans are stimulate by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spotlight and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , pelting , dirty garden tools , or even citizenry can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the industrial plant is dry . Leaves that pile up around the basis of the industrial plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil grade . For fungous foliage dapple , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
