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Moving a salvia hot lips

puschkiniapuschkinia Posts: 207
in Plants
I planted a salvia hot lips in my back garden and I didn't realise how big it would get - it's a total thug! And although I love salvias, I don't like this one :tired_face:

I was thinking I'd either give it away or move it into a pot, then replace it with a royal bumble (or with nothing, giving the other plants more space). Do I need to wait until autumn/winter to move it? Or can I move it now (well, after the heatwave) so that the surrounding plants get some breathing space? I feel bad taking it out when it's so happy, but I've massively over-crowded that part of my garden

I've attached the photo to make clear how bad the overcrowding I've caused is :lol:  

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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,233
    Take cuttings to give away then scrap the old plant when you've had enough.
  • puschkiniapuschkinia Posts: 207
    great! i had enough a few weeks ago ;) 
  • FireFire Posts: 17,318
    I don't think it's a "thug", but it can get big. I would look at how woody your plant is at the base. They really need pruning hard each year to stop them getting woody, taking it back to the just above the lowest green shoots on each stem.

    If the plant is pretty new, with thein, sappy growth at the base, I would pot it up and give it away. August would be a good time to do this, to give it time to settle in before the winter. If the plant has woody stems, I would take cuttings, if you have friends that might want new plants, and then compost the mother plant.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,536
    I was given one, and I moved it, very successfully , into the compost bin. 
    It's the only salvia i don't like
    Devon.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,909
    To be honest, if you're not that keen on it (and you've got a load of cuttings), l would either dig it up now and dispose of it or when things turn a bit cooler dig it up and offer it on Freecyle or with a "free to good home" notice by the front gate.
    Someone will take it l'm sure.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,318
    Yes @Hostafan1, we know.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,536
    edited July 2022
    Fire said:
    Yes @Hostafan1, we know.
    does EVERYONE  know? Methinks not.
    Pardon me for voicing an opinion. 
    Devon.
  • puschkiniapuschkinia Posts: 207
    @Fire great, thanks that's really helpful. I only planted it last autumn but it seems to becoming woody already. I thought I had a cold, shady north facing garden with rubbish soil but it turns out it gets pretty hot and the whole thing gets sun. So my guess that everything would grow slowly was wrong, and now it's all overcrowded! First world problem, but still

    @Hostafan1 @AnniD Ha, yeah I don't like it either anymore. I got a salvia nachtvlinder and love that one. Against the other plants I've got the hot lips just looks a bit garish for me
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,536
    puschkinia said:


    @Hostafan1 @AnniD Ha, yeah I don't like it either anymore. I got a salvia nachtvlinder and love that one. Against the other plants I've got the hot lips just looks a bit garish for me
    I concur, 100% . I bought amethyst lips a couple of weeks ago. Much easier on the eye.
    Devon.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,909
    Just keep an eye on the Nachtvlinder @puschkinia, it has a habit of running amok. Quite easy to pull up the rooted runners and get new plants though :) 
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