Tip #8: Salvia
Adding vertical interest is a critical component of strong garden design, and salvia provides those necessary, striking architectural spikes. Available in vivid shades of blue, purple, red, and white, salvias belong to the mint family. You can easily identify them by their square stems and highly aromatic foliage.
That fragrant foliage is your secret weapon against garden pests. Deer and rabbits find the strong scent highly unappealing, making salvia an excellent choice if you struggle with woodland creatures treating your flower beds like a salad bar. Meanwhile, the long, tubular flowers act as a magnet for hummingbirds seeking rich nectar.
Salvias include both dependable perennials and showy annuals. For perennial varieties, remove the flower spikes as soon as the color begins to fade at the base of the stem. Prompt deadheading keeps the plant looking tidy and encourages side shoots to develop, guaranteeing a steady succession of dramatic spikes among your flowers that bloom all summer.
