Salvia 'Oriental Dove'

Planting Advice:

• 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.
• Individually knock out each plant from its container. Look at the roots – if they are circling around the compost, it is best to tease them out. To do this, push your fingers into the rootball along the bottom edge and pull. Do this in a couple of places. This should encourage the roots to spread into the surrounding soil.
• 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:

• Feed and water regularly until plants are fully established.
• Although perennial, this Amethyst 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:

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