They prefer light, free-draining soil. If your garden has heavy clay, it’s worth improving it with grit or compost, or planting in raised beds or pots.

When they’re newly planted, water regularly to help them settle in. Once established, most salvias are quite drought-tolerant and only need watering during dry spells.

Not much. A handful of compost or a slow-release fertiliser in spring will do the trick. Too much feed—especially nitrogen—can lead to lots of leaves but fewer flowers.

Yes—snipping off spent blooms encourages fresh flowers and helps keep the plant looking neat.

Leave them over winter so the old growth can protect the crown, and cut back hard in spring once new growth appears. This gives them a good, fresh start.

Definitely. Take soft tip cuttings in spring or late summer, pop them in a pot of compost, and keep them lightly moist. They usually root quite quickly.

The most likely reasons are not enough sun, too much feed, or letting the dead flowers pile up. A good sunny spot and regular deadheading usually sorts it out.

Some are fully hardy in the UK, while others—especially the more exotic types—need a bit of winter protection. If you're unsure, mulch around the base or bring them indoors.

They're generally trouble-free. Occasionally you might spot aphids, slugs or mildew, but if they’ve got space, good air flow, and well-drained soil, they’re usually fine.