How to Look After Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ and Similar Varieties 

I’m thinking of starting a petition to get John his own gardening TV show. 😉

@@marymary5494 good idea , are you a friend of his ? Where are you based? I am in the U.K., independent gardener trained with the national trust in 2015/16 late career change since 60 this year, John knows his onions as we say here.

Me also!

This kind of look like me cutting my hair during COVID-19.

That’s interesting re the salad, I’ll try it when new leaves come. Maybe too late to prune now (sept 4) for a new flush would you say? (I didn’t know it had to be pruned each year!). Mine in the soil.

arriesone1 it depends where you live and what type of autumn we get. Mine will flower until at least Christmas. If your flowers are white, then I’d suggest a light trim now but they certainly need a good prune in late spring otherwise they become woody at the base with all the growth above.

Paul Meredith Thanks for that Paul. (I’m not far from you, in the Channel Islands so similar weather)

Ah, so their turning white is a natural progression?! I thought maybe it needed food or fertilizer. Good to know, thanks!

Hahahaha

He is unique, ahahahaha!

Lol

That poor sheep. Good thing this man is not a farmer.

I went through my first year with a few salvias and you are right about them bringing in hummers. Now I want more for next year. I’m hooked!

They are drought tolerant as they come from Mexico and Texas. Salvias are a great choice if you get plenty of sun and not much rainfall.

When you have pulled it out (preferably more gently than Mr Lord did if it's possible), just split it by gently pulling the root ball into three or four pieces, then replant separately. You can apologise to it first if it makes you feel better. If it has woody stems all connected at one point you may need to tear them apart. Plant all the pieces separately or dispose of the ones you don't want. I have watched my father do this with all sorts of plants. Obviously you need to plant in nutritious soil and water well. A bit of bonemeal fertilizer in the compost would probably help things along, but that's generally true.

@@michaelhooker3473 About a week after this, I did just that, bar the bonemeal. Split in 2, tearing the wood with hope and 1 went into ground and 1 into pot. Both...thriving. Thankfully 😀

Prolly somebody comes and cleans it all up in a jiffy, no big problem.

😂

May be Astilbe. He has a number of them and he talks about them in several videos so watch some older ones.

They can be affected if temperatures drop below -5

I don't think John uses fertilizer. Ever. Uses plants that don't need it, that are good with the soil he has. Guessing even in pots, which some of us treat a little differently than plants in the ground. But maybe not necessary if you pick plants that are adaptable?

Sure! Whether or not you get an answer may be hit or miss though.

That was a question right? :-D

Yes, they grow easily roots if you put them in a glass with water. Just always exchange the water , so they won't start rotting.

Late spring early summer is a good time to cut them back

Thankyou very much.​@@johnlordssecretgarden

I've never been good at being cruel to plants , like pruning roses ! K