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Transplanting Salvia Amistad

Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
in Plants
Hello,

I planted a Salvia Amistad about three months ago and it's done really well. Looks fab right now. However I now think it would look better elsewhere and want to move it. It's not been in long so I'm not worried about disturbing the roots too much however I was just wondering if now would be a suitable time to do it as the plant is in full flower. Should I cut it back at all and if so, by how much? I've never had one before so don't really know how to care for it. 

It's currently about 3ft tall and 2ft across. 
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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited October 2022
    I would wait a couple of weeks for it to start slowing down and going dormant.   it's not very big yet so I would wait to cut it back till next spring as the top growth will give some frost protection to the crown.  Mulching after transplanting will help too.

    Make sure you water well before and after transplanting to minimise root disturbance and help it settle in again.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I don't know where you are, but although Amistad is said to be hardy, slugs love the new shoots, and it would probably benefit from being lifted, potted and kept in a cool greenhouse or frame over winter. Then when it starts to grow you can sprinkle a few slug pellets round it. I would also take some of the new shoots off as cuttings if you can.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I've got one that I want to move. It's very mild here for October (as well as nice and wet :smile: ) so it's still in full flow. I'm intending to wait until it stops flowering, but we'll see. I might cut it back and move it anyway if it's still in flower in a couple of weeks. I have several (all from cuttings off my original one) so it won't be the end of the world if it doesn't survive.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I dug mine up from the border a few days ago, as it wouldn't survive a winter here outside. Potted up, watered, in the greenhouse, it hasn't even blinked :)
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    If I was digging mine up now, it would be to bring them into a cold g/h for Winter.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    No greenhouse or even porch here, everything has to take its chances outside. The well-drained soil and relatively low rainfall (compared to pennine areas, Scotland, Wales and so on) helps a lot with borderline-hardy things.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I don't think it would suffer from moving it now - I wouldn't even cut it back to be honest. But I think sticking it in a pot to overwinter against a house wall would be sensible, even if only to reduce the slug damage in spring. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    This particular one is rather large and for me they make big rootballs too - I'm not sure that I have a free pot/tub that's big enough. I might see if I can move it with all the top growth on though. It'll be dying back soon so no problem if I break stems or damage leaves.
    I haven't had trouble with slugs eating any of my salvias. They seem to prefer other things with softer, less scented leaves (lupins seem to be a favourite in spring).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • HarryWhiteHarryWhite Posts: 51
    Hi

    I've been toying with the idea of getting Salvia Amistad for a while now. From a wildlife point of view i wanted one because i read somewhere they are a good plant for the Hummingbird Moth. Has anybody seen these moths around the plant at all?

    The thing that puts me off, is that i'd have to dig it up every winter and my only storage is a dark shed with only a small window. Would it be ok with just a few hours of light a day?

    Where i live i could maybe get away with not over wintering it if it wasn't for the fact that i dont have good soil drainage. 
    I've just seen Ronnie O'Sullivan at the garden center. I think he was eyeing up a plant.
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    @HarryWhite - if you're interested in attracting hummingbird hawk moths, I had one visiting my garden all sumer and it nearly always made a beeline for the Verbena bonariensis. 

    I couldn't say if Salvia amistad attracts them (I don't grow it), but there was an unusually high number of those moths around this year, so I'm sure if you start thread on the subject there will be people on here who'll know.
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