Salvia 'Hot Lips'

Planting Advice for Salvia 'Hot Lips':

• Salvias grow best in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, avoid excessively exposed areas and waterlogged soils.
• Before planting, prepare the soil by digging over and removing any weeds. Incorporate some well-rotted manure to enrich the soil if necessary.
• When planting a number of perennials, arrange them on the surface so you can see how they will look before planting.
• Next use a trowel or spade to create a hole just deep and wide enough to set in the rootball.
  The aim is to bury just the roots, leaving the bases of the stems (when in growth in summer) or the shoots (in spring) above ground.
• Firm back around the soil, using your hand for small clumps and your heel on larger areas.
• Water in well to settle the soil and prevent desiccation.

Aftercare advice for Hot Lips:

• Feed and water regularly until plants are fully established.
• Although perennial, this Hot Lips will require some winter protection outdoors in the form of a straw mulch and if growing it in containers, move to a cold greenhouse or conservatory to prevent the cold from penetrating to the roots.
• In spring, apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant.

Pruning Advice for Salvia:

• Prune lightly in late spring when new growth appears to remove dead stems and to maintain a bushy shape