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Selecting perennial flowers can be one of the most difficult aspects of planting flower borders or landscapes. Carefully taking the needs and requirements of the plants into consideration will help to ensure that these plantings are quick to establish themselves, and will look great throughout the growing season.
The autumn sage plant is a perennial that has gained popularity. Not only is this plant versatile, but it offers growers a season filled with flower blooms.
With its vibrant purple flowers and aromatic foliage, autumn sage is a popular perennial in many gardens. To keep your autumn sage healthy and blooming beautifully season after season, occasional fertilization is recommended. However, over-fertilizing can cause more harm than good. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll cover the basics of fertilizing autumn sage plants successfully.
Autumn sage (Salvia greggii) is a semi-evergreen perennial shrub native to Texas and Mexico. Growing 1-3 feet tall and wide, this tough plant thrives in full sun and dry, well-draining soil. Autumn sage blooms from summer through fall when it produces fuzzy purple pink, red or white flowers on short racemes. The oval green leaves have a pleasant minty scent.
While beautiful, autumn sage is also hardy and low-maintenance in the landscape It requires minimal watering once established and tolerates heat, humidity, and drought Deer and rabbits tend to leave this plant alone too. But to keep your autumn sage looking its best, periodic fertilization is recommended.
Understanding Autumn Sage’s Nutrient Needs
Autumn sage plants are light feeders that don’t require heavy fertilization. Too much fertilizer can cause leggy growth and fewer flowers. This native plant thrives in lean, rocky soils.
The main nutrients autumn sage needs are:
- Nitrogen – promotes healthy foliage growth
- Phosphorus – supports root development and blooms
- Potassium – boosts overall plant health
A balanced fertilizer with moderate amounts of these nutrients is ideal for autumn sage. Organic options like compost or worm castings supply nutrients gently without risk of burn.
When to Fertilize Autumn Sage
Autumn sage only needs fertilizing once or twice per year:
- Early spring as growth resumes
- Mid-summer to encourage fall blooms
Avoid fertilizing after September, as this late feeding may spur tender new growth that won’t harden off before winter. It’s best to fertilize when the soil is moist but not soaked. Water the plant the day before to help nutrients penetrate the soil.
Selecting the Right Autumn Sage Fertilizer
Look for a balanced, granular, slow-release fertilizer in spring. An NPK ratio around 10-10-10 works well. Slow-release formulas provide a steady, moderate nutrient supply over 2-3 months. Avoid quick-release fertilizers that easily burn roots or leach away.
For summer feeding, a bloom-boosting formula (higher in phosphorus) encourages prolific flowering. Alternatively, you can apply more balanced organic fertilizer like compost, worm castings, or aged manure.
Whichever you choose, follow package label instructions to determine how much to apply. More is not better with autumn sage!
How to Fertilize Autumn Sage
Fertilizing your autumn sage properly takes just a few simple steps:
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Measure out the recommended amount of fertilizer based on your plant’s size. More mature plants need a bit more.
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Sprinkle fertilizer evenly around the base of the plant. Take care to avoid direct contact with stems and leaves.
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Lightly scratch the fertilizer into the soil surface using a hand trowel or cultivator.
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Water deeply after applying to dissolve nutrients and penetrate the root zone.
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Fertilize in the morning or on a cloudy day to prevent burning.
Organic options like compost can simply be worked into the top few inches of soil. No need to be exact with scoop measurements.
Tips for Feeding Success
Here are some bonus tips for getting the most out of fertilizing your autumn sage:
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Test your soil pH and amend if needed – autumn sage thrives in slightly acidic soil.
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Apply organic mulch yearly to improve nutrient and moisture retention.
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Monitor regularly and increase watering if fertilized plants show signs of stress.
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Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that spur leggy growth.
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Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers.
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Divide mature plants in spring every 3-4 years to maintain vigor.
Signs Your Autumn Sage Needs Fertilizer
How can you tell if your autumn sage would benefit from feeding? Watch for these clues:
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Sparse leaf growth or yellowing leaves
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Lackluster flowering with small blooms
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Overall stunted or dying back plants
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Evidence of soil nutrient deficiencies
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Soil pH outside the ideal range for autumn sage
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Normal leaf loss as plant ages over time
Dangers of Over-Fertilizing Autumn Sage
While light feeding is beneficial, it’s easy to overdo it with fertilizer. Too much can cause:
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Leaf burn or root damage from salts
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Excess foliage growth instead of flowers
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Flopping, weak growth unable to support itself
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Excess salt buildup in the soil over time
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More susceptibility to certain pests and diseases
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More maintenance like staking required
When in doubt, err on the side of less with autumn sage. Observe how your plant responds and adjust your feeding program accordingly.
When grown in ideal conditions, autumn sage is a rugged, low-maintenance plant. But giving it a nutritional boost once or twice per year can keep it looking vibrant. Stick with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied lightly in spring and mid-summer. Avoid overfeeding, which can diminish flowering and cause other issues. With a little restraint, you can enjoy a healthy, floriferous autumn sage for years to come.
How to Plant Autumn Sage
When choosing to grow autumn sage, gardeners will first need to locate transplants. While it is possible to grow this plant from seed, cuttings or transplants will produce a plant that is true to type. Purchasing plants from a reputable retailer will ensure that the plants are healthy and disease-free.
Choose a well-draining location that receives full sun. Like most types of salvia, autumn sage plants will not do well in plantings with excess moisture. This makes them ideal candidates for container plantings, xeriscape yards, or those living in drier climates.
The temperature will also be key in success when growing these plants. Though the hardiness of the plants will vary by cultivar, autumn sage is generally hardy to about 15 F. (-9 C.). Temperatures colder than this may result in damage or the complete loss of the plants.
What is Autumn Sage?
Autumn sage plant, or Salvia greggii, is a native perennial plant to regions of Mexico, New Mexico, and southern Texas. Reaching roughly 3 feet (1 meter) in both height and width at maturity, these native plants are ideal candidates for wildflower gardens and for use in conventional flower gardens.
Though red cultivars are most common, autumn sage flowers can be found in a wide range of colors. Beyond their blooms, autumn sage plants also feature uniquely fragrant foliage which can be easily maintained through routine trimming.
A Guide About ‘Red Autumn’ Sage (Salvia) with Sarah Smith
FAQ
What kind of fertilizer does sage need?
What is the best fertilizer for Salvias?
How do you care for Autumn Sage plants?
How do you feed sage plants?
Does autumn sage need fertilizer?
Autumn sage is a light feeder and does not require much fertilizer. Applying a light layer of slow-release fertilizer pellets to the soil at the base of your plants at the beginning of the growing season will provide adequate nutrients through the spring, summer, and fall.
How do you care for autumn sage?
Autumn sage is a fairly easy-going plant. Here are the main care requirements for growing autumn sage. Plant in a spot that gets lots of sunlight, ideally at least six hours. Place in dry, well-drained soil, but do not plant in wet, clay-based soil. Water moderately, though autumn sage is fairly drought-tolerant once established.
How do you grow autumn sage?
In most regions, this plant will thrive in a site with full sun, but in very hot climates it will appreciate some shade during the heat of the day. Give the plant moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Autumn sage does well in gravely, rocky soil, but may not tolerate dense clay-based soil. Water regularly after planting.
Do sage plants need a lot of fertilizer?
All sage plants are light feeders, and autumn sage is no exception. If your soil is moderately fertile, no additional feeding may be necessary at all. At most, you can apply a handful of balanced slow-release fertilizer around the base of the plant each spring.