Salvia is a late-summer garden favorite, bringing vibrant color to flower beds, borders, and containers just as many other perennials begin to fade.
In September, a few simple maintenance tasks can help keep plants flowering, encourage healthy growth, and prepare them for the colder months ahead. If you grow salvias, it’s worth knowing that different types of salvia can have very different care requirements, particularly when it comes to pruning and overwintering.
In my own garden, I grow Russian Sage, which you can buy on Trees.com, a trusted source for plants. But if you want a true salvia, I recommend the Snow Hill Wood Sage from Plant Addicts.
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From deadheading spent blooms to taking cuttings, these are the salvia jobs worth adding to your September gardening checklist.
1. Keep Deadheading for More Blooms
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If your salvia is still flowering, continue removing spent flower spikes, or deadhead salvia, regularly. Regular deadheading encourages the plant to put its energy into producing new flowers rather than setting seed, which can help extend the display well into fall.
For clean, precise cuts, use sharp pruners such as the Fiskars Steel Bypass Pruner or Scotts Precision Hand Pruner, both available on Amazon. Cut faded flower stalks back to just above a healthy set of leaves or a branching point, taking care not to damage new growth.
2. Give Container Salvias Some Attention
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If you grow salvia in pots, plants can run short of nutrients toward the end of the growing season, particularly after months of flowering.
If they’re still actively growing and blooming, a light application of a balanced fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food or Jobe’s Organics All Purpose Fertilizer from Walmart, can provide a useful boost. Avoid heavy fertilizing late in the season, though. Encouraging lots of tender new growth as temperatures drop can leave container-grown salvias more vulnerable to cold damage.
3. Check for Pests and Disease
Take a few minutes to inspect your plants for common pests and problems such as aphids, powdery mildew, or other signs of stress. Pay particular attention to the undersides of leaves and areas where foliage is crowded.
For minor pest infestations, insecticidal soap such as Bonide Insecticidal Soap can help control aphids and other soft-bodied insects, while Bonide Copper Fungicide can help manage certain fungal diseases. Remove badly affected leaves and improve air circulation where possible. Water at the base of the plant rather than over the foliage, especially as cooler, wetter weather arrives.
4. Don’t Cut Salvia Back Too Early
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It can be tempting to cut perennials back as soon as the first signs of fall appear, but there’s no need to rush with salvia that’s still healthy and flowering.
If you’re wondering when to prune salvia, leaving foliage and stems in place for longer allows the plant to continue photosynthesizing and can provide additional protection as temperatures begin to fall.
When the time comes, a pair of sharp Haus & Garten Premium Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears from Amazon can make clean, precise cuts. Wait until flowering has finished and your particular variety is ready for its fall pruning.
5. Prepare Tender Salvias for Winter
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Not all salvias have the same cold tolerance, so check the hardiness of your specific variety before deciding how to overwinter it. If you’re wondering how to winterize salvia, tender types – including some popular ornamental salvias grown as annuals in colder parts of the US – may need to be moved indoors or into a protected space before the first frost.
Container plants are particularly easy to shelter. A lightweight frost protection cover, such as the Agfabric Plant Cover, can provide an extra layer of protection for plants that remain outdoors. If your salvia is hardy in your USDA Hardiness Zone, it may be able to remain outdoors with little intervention, although a layer of mulch around the base, such as Scotts Nature Scapes Color Enhanced Mulch from Lowe’s, can help protect the roots from temperature fluctuations.
6. Take Cuttings for Next Year
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September can be a good time to propagate salvia from cuttings, particularly if you have a plant you want to keep growing next season.
Take healthy, non-flowering shoots and root them in a well-draining propagation mix, such as Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix. Keep the cuttings somewhere warm and bright but protected from extreme temperatures while they establish.
For gardeners in colder USDA Hardiness Zones, overwintering young plants under cover can be an easy way to build up your collection without buying new plants each spring.
September isn’t the time to give up on your salvias. Keep deadheading, watch for pests and disease, and protect tender varieties before the first frost. Most importantly, know your salvia’s hardiness and your USDA Hardiness Zone. Tailor your fall care to your climate, and you’ll give your plants the best chance of returning next year.