A landscaping opportunity arose 6 years ago with a garage addition. We removed all the front lawn, saving the large shrubs (Nandina, Pineapple Guava, Razzleberry (Loropetalum “Razzleberri’) and trees (Crape Myrtle, Chaste, Desert Willow, Red Maple and Flowering Plum). These trees and shrubs provide the backbone of the garden, plus take a long time to grow. Saving them was a top priority. I wanted my yard to have the English cottage style garden feel, not a desert landscape.
Working with a landscape designer, many colorful, drought tolerant plants were selected to spread among those trees and shrubs. Among the plants selected were Purple Hopseed Bush, Spirea, Lomandra and Artemesia. But, my favorites by far are many colorful, aromatic, butterfly and bee attracting Salvias, or sages.
Salvias are a large group of garden plants that includes annuals, perennials, and evergreen or deciduous shrubs. The genus Salvia (in the Lamiaceae, or Mint Family) offers Central Valley gardeners one of the largest and most versatile groups of plants available for water-wise gardening. The name Salvia is derived from the Latin word salver, meaning “to heal.” Salvias have been used for herbal and medicinal qualities since ancient times. Flowering salvias produce spikes of small, densely packed flowers atop aromatic foliage. These drought-tolerant beauties bloom from early spring to late summer in shades of blue, violet, red, pink, and white. There are varieties that grow in all conditions, from full sun to full shade. Plants grow 12 inches to 5 feet tall.
So, you may ask, what is my problem? My salvias are now well-established plants, and they bloom in full splendor through the spring and early summer. Bees and butterflies are abundant. But, in the hot summer months, these same plants look leggy with spent blooms on the end of stems. Do I prune? If so, when? How much? How about irrigation? These are drought tolerant plants. Does that mean they need no water, little water, more water as they get bigger? Time for some research. Here is what I found.
Deadheading (removing faded blooms) is the most basic pruning practice that improves the health and appearance of any Salvia. And it can be done as needed. But cutting back stems for healthy plant growth and good bloom requires knowledge of the main types of Salvias.
Rosette types, such as Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea), give rise to erect flower stems surrounded by low mounds of foliage at the base of the stems. During bloom time, completely remove any flowering stems after they become spent. They may flower again. In our area, in the late fall, when growth stops, cut close to the ground any remaining flower stems. This pruning will strengthen roots for the next growing season.
Soft-stemmed deciduous sages have no woody growth. Most are winter hardy, returning year after year. Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) is an example of this type. During the growing season, unsightly stems that have finished blooming can be cut to the ground. When the plant’s appearance becomes messy, it is okay to give these sages a “haircut,” trimming to 6-12 inches above the ground. You can expect fresh growth and new flowering. In the late fall, completely prune off the spent stems close (3-4 inches) to the ground. This severe pruning avoids a tangled mess next spring and controls pests over the winter.
Pruning for the larger, woody Salvias is similar to the smaller ones. Autumn sages (Salvia gregii species) and the popular Cleveland Sage (Salvia Clevelandii) are examples of woody stemmed Salvias. In our area, they may become shrub-like. During the growing season, removing spent blooms stimulates new growth and flowering. For a tidy fall clean up following the last bloom, cut the spent stems to 5-6 inches above ground to prepare for the next growing season. Some of these Salvias can grow to be up to 120 inches tall and 48 inches wide. Prune these shrubby Salvias by removing both old wood and crossing branches at any time. Pruning encourages new growth. They can also be pruned to control height, width and attractive appearance.
It was harder to find information on watering established Salvias. Salvias, like any drought tolerant plant, need a long drink of water applied to the ground at the edge of its canopy or drip line. In the perennial drought-tolerant garden, it is recommended to water infrequently, slowly and deeply. I follow the city of Visalia’s watering guidelines, watering twice a week in July and August. Since all the plants are drip irrigated, I set my controller to water for long periods of time (an hour or longer) to allow for deep water penetration. The depth to which water needs to sink to feed the roots of well-established perennials may be down to 24 to 36 inches.
Most drought tolerant plants, once established, do not need excessive summer irrigation. Even in a hot, dry summer, our water usage per month has stayed the same or decreased over previous years.
Though this article focuses on Salvias, caring for other drought tolerant plants and shrubs is similar. As with all gardens, maintenance is necessary and ongoing. Remember low water using plants does not necessarily mean low maintenance! I hope this information is useful in caring for established plants in a drought tolerant garden.
Nancy Hawkins is a UCCE Master Gardener of Tulare-Kings County.
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