What to Actually Do With Your Salvias in June to Keep Them Flowering All Summer Long
A few simple jobs in June, from deadheading to light pruning and staking, can keep salvias flowering for months and looking their best throughout summer
Salvias are among the hardest-working perennials in a summer garden, producing spikes of vivid blooms that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds for months on end. While these pollinator-friendly favorites are remarkably low maintenance, a little attention in June can make the difference between a brief flowering display and continuous color that lasts right through summer and into fall.
By mid-June, many salvia types are finishing their first major flush of blooms. Whether you grow salvia in sunny borders, pollinator gardens, or patio containers, now is the time to give plants a little care. A few simple tasks, including deadheading and light pruning, will encourage fresh growth and help keep salvias flowering repeatedly for the rest of the season.
In my own garden, I grow Pink Profusion Salvia, which I love for its subtle fragrance and rich, deep pink blooms. I also have my eye on the ‘Back to the Fuchsia’ Salvia – it’s a fantastic option if you’re after a real burst of vibrant color and long-lasting flowers. Both are available from Plant Addicts.
1. Deadhead Spent Flower Spikes
The most important job for salvias in June is deadheading. As the earliest flowers begin to fade, cut the spent flower stems back to the first set of healthy leaves or to a pair of developing side shoots. Deadheading salvia is one of the simplest ways to extend the flowering season, as removing old blooms prevents the plant from putting energy into seed production and instead encourages it to produce fresh flower spikes.
Many popular salvias, particularly ornamental varieties, will reward you with a second and even third flush of flowers if you keep up with deadheading throughout the season. Check your plants every week or so and promptly remove any fading stems to keep plants looking tidy and blooming freely.
A pair of sharp, clean pruners will make the job much easier. The PrunePro Pruning Shears Gardening Scissors Set from Amazon features precision micro-tip blades that are ideal for snipping spent salvia flower spikes without damaging surrounding buds, making it a handy tool for deadheading salvia throughout the summer.
2. Give Plants a Light Trim
While the previous step is all about deadheading individual spent blooms, a light trim can also help refresh salvias that are starting to look a little untidy after their first flush of flowers. Cutting back up to one-third of the flowering stems encourages fresh growth from the base and helps plants maintain a compact, bushy shape.
To prune salvia, I use the Fiskars 6-Inch Pruning Scissors for Flower Stems to tackle this job, as the narrow blades make it easy to tidy up plants without causing too much of a stir.
This approach is especially useful for herbaceous salvias, which can become leggy by midsummer if left entirely to their own devices. Just avoid cutting into old, woody growth, particularly on shrubby salvias, as these stems can be slow to regenerate.
3. Water Deeply During Dry Spells
Although established salvias are generally drought-tolerant, June can bring periods of heat that place newly planted specimens under stress. If rainfall has been scarce, water deeply once or twice a week rather than giving plants frequent shallow drinks. This approach is especially important when watering plants in a heatwave, as deep soaking encourages roots to grow further into the soil, creating stronger, more resilient plants that are better able to cope with prolonged hot weather later in the season.
Try to water early in the morning so moisture has time to reach the roots before temperatures rise and the foliage can dry during the day. If you're watering by hand, the best-selling AUTOMAN Garden Hose Nozzle from Amazon is a handy option, with multiple spray settings that make it easy to give newly planted salvias a slow, deep soak during hot spells.
4. Feed Lightly to Encourage Repeat Blooms
Salvias are not particularly hungry plants, but a light application of balanced liquid fertilizer in June can support continuous flowering. If you're wondering how to fertilize salvias, the key is to feed lightly and avoid overdoing it. High-nitrogen fertilizers tend to encourage lush, leafy growth at the expense of flowers, so opt for a balanced feed or one formulated for flowering plants and apply it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
For most salvias, one light feeding after deadheading the first flush of blooms is often enough to keep plants performing strongly through the rest of the summer. Salvias also benefit from a potassium-rich tomato feed, which encourages more flowers rather than excess foliage. Products such as Miracle-Gro Shake 'N Feed All Purpose Plant Food from Amazon and Burpee 8 lbs. Organic Dry Fertilizer Tomato from The Home Depot are both good options for supporting repeat blooms and keeping plants flowering freely through the season.
5. Keep an Eye on Overcrowding
June is also a good time to take stock of the plants growing around your salvias. These sun-loving perennials thrive in open, airy positions, but neighboring plants can quickly begin to crowd them out as garden borders fill in.
If foliage is becoming congested, gently cut back nearby plants or remove any weeds competing for light, moisture, and nutrients. Giving salvias a little extra breathing room not only helps them flower more freely but also improves air circulation around the plants, reducing the risk of fungal issues during periods of heat and humidity.
The June Salvia Mistake to Avoid
The biggest mistake gardeners make with salvias in June is leaving spent flowers in place. It’s easy to let them go while the plant still looks good, but once flower spikes start setting seed, blooming often begins to slow down.
A few minutes spent deadheading salvia each week can make a real difference, encouraging wave after wave of fresh flowers and keeping these pollinator-friendly plants performing at their best through summer. With regular deadheading, a light trim, and the occasional watering during dry spells, salvias will keep producing colourful blooms well into late summer and, in many gardens, right up until the first frosts.
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