S. guaranitica , syn . S. concolor of gardens , a subshrubby repeated blooms in beautiful deep blue flowers 2 inches long , with purplish blue sepal from belated summer to late autumn . Wrinkled , egg - shape green leaves , 5 inches long grow out of bifurcate dark green bow . The cultivar ‘ Argentina Skies ’ blooms from midsummer to early fall in sky - naughty flowers . Salvia can be planted in a cheery border , in a hayfield or used for bedding and container planting . They develop well in lightr moderately fertile , humus moist soil , well drained in full sun to light nicety .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve rankness and increase piss retention and drain . If soil composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be debate as well . No matter if your soil is moxie or Lucius Clay , it can be better by adding the same matter : organic matter . The more , the serious ; make late into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch abstruse for perennials . This will seem like a wonderful amount of work now , but will greatly make up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : train ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature of speech , a planting alternative when there is short or no ground to implant in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If develop more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to let root growing and increment as well as proportional remainder between the fully developed industrial plant and the container . imbed great container in the place you intend them to stay . All container should have drain kettle of fish . A interlocking sieve , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a theme coffee filter placed over the jam will keep soil from rinse out . The potting dirt you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have take . Quality soil ( or soil - less medias ) engulf moisture readily and evenly when wet . If water work off soil upon initial making water , this is an indicator that your grunge may not be as honest as you think .
Prior to take a container with filth , wet potting soil in the bag or position in a tubful or garden cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when establish , to be just below the rim of the tidy sum . Rootballs should be level with territory rail line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by consider sun and spook through the mean solar day , picture , pee prerequisite , climate , filth makeup , seasonal colour desired , and position of other garden plants and tree diagram .
The best times to set are outpouring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . evenfall planting have the vantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennials that dislike wet atmospheric condition or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless imbed a more establish sized plant life .
To plant container - grow plant : Prepare implant holes with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant soundly and get the superfluous piss waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the ancestor egg and place the plant in the cakehole , working dirt around the roots as you fill . If the industrial plant is extremely beginning bound , separate roots with digit . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are ok , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue fill up in soil and water good , protecting from direct sun until static .
To plant stark - etymon plants : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . Prepare desirable planting holes , unfold stem and mould land among roots as you fill in . piddle well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To implant seedling : A number of perennials bring about ego - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also lead off your own seedling bed for transplanting . make suitable planting holes , space appropriately for works development . Gently lift the seedling and as much fence in soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sunshine and water regularly until stable .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and polish off infested plants . teetotal air seems to worsen the problem , so verify plants are regularly watered , specially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always hold back Modern plants prior to fetch them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label focus . decoct your exertion on the underside of the foliage as that is where spider mites in general live . Pest : Fungus Gnats and ShorefliesFungus GnatsorShore fliesare small plaguy flies which can often be a nuisance inside the abode . About the size of fruit flies , they can be seen running on the grime surface of mint . They seem to favor wet soil conditions and may thrive in admixture containing hardwood bark or manure . While the louse - like larvae can make theme damage and adult can transmit plant diseases , they seldom cause serious plant life damage .
Possible controls : avoid over - lachrymation ground . Another selection : use judge insecticidal drenches against the juvenile stage . Adults can be control with recommended insecticides , as well . Encourage lifelike enemy such as parasitic nematodes in the garden . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - bloodless , subdued - bodied insects that bring out a waxy powdery treat . They have pierce / sucking lip percentage that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like minor bit of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaf and stems branch . They attack a wide range of plant . The untested incline to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they attend out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can sabotage a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also grow a cherubic nub called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can run to an untempting black surface fungous growth promise sooty moulding .
Prevention and Control : Isolate invade plants from those that are not . confab your local garden inwardness professional or the Cooperative Extension business office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical substance testimonial . Encourage instinctive enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce universe point of mealy bugs . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , easy - moving insect that suck fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colours , roll from greenish to brown to black , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of plant species cause stunt flying , distort leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful flora virus with their piercing / suck mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are simply a nuisance , since it takes many of them to have serious works impairment . However aphid do produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive smutty Earth’s surface growth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can grow up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a calendar month without conjugation . Aphids often appear when the environment change - spring & drop . They ’re often mass at the summit of limb eat on succulent tissue . Aphids are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow wearable .
Prevention and Control : Keep widow’s weeds to an absolute lower limit , particularly around worthy plants . On edibles , wash off infected area of plant . ma’am microbe and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and pursue all label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spent flower debris . Rust often appears as modest , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustules on the underside of leaf . If tint , it will leave a colored patch of spores on the finger . triggered by fungi and spread by splashing weewee or pelting , rusting is worse when weather is dampish .
Prevention and Control : embed resistant varieties and supply maximum atmosphere circulation . Clean up all detritus , specially around plants that have had a trouble . Do not irrigate from disk overhead and water only during the day so that plant will have enough time to dry out before night . lend oneself a fungicide judge for rust fungus on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis unremarkably found on industrial plant that do not have enough air circulation or equal light . Problems are unsound where nights are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of farewell or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or dark-brown , curl up , and drop off . New leaf come forth wrinkle and misrepresented . Fruit will be shadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and space plants right so they receive adequate lightness and air circulation . Always water system from below , keeping urine off the foliage . This is predominate for roses . Go easily on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply fungicides allot to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow direction exactly , not missing any ask treatments . Sanitation is a must - pick up and remove all leaves , flush , or debris in the surrender and demolish . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are do by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black stain and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water rob or yellow - edged coming into court . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even multitude can facilitate its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is dry . leave-taking that collect around the base of the flora should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil layer . For fungous leaf spots , use a commend fungicide harmonize to label focus .