I overwintered 2 pots of Salvia B&B last winter in the garage. It worked extremely well! I forgot about them and don't remember watering them all winter, regardless, they did fine. I think I watered them when they started to send shoots up in March or so - it was much earlier than they normally would outside. I would have potted more for the winter, except the voles ate the other three! I bought 3 more this past spring, and when I planted them in the Spring, I put wire cages made out of hardware cloth around the roots. They did great this summer and I'm going to dig up all 5 of them this fall.

I think you have several choices. one is to put it in the ground in a sunny spot, it will grow a lot this summer, then after a hard freeze kills it to the ground, cover it with some leaves, and uncover in May. It should make it through the winter, I think. another choice is to wait until about september, take a bunch of cuttings, try to root them in some moist potting soil,, and save the ones that survive on a bright windowsill. I'd really want to take cuttings later, just before freezing weather kills the plant, but assuming you haven't tried this before, you will want to have time for a second try if the first round of cuttings fails. Third, you could move the whole plant indoors over winter. A cool, bright place would be ideal. warm and dim will probably kill the plant. This third option isn't as easy as it sounds, and will probably work only with a sunroom, nice bright window, or similar place in the house. Fourth, let the plant in the pot be top killed by frost, then move the pot to a cold, but not freezing, place like a basement. Keep moist and cool all winter, move outside in the spring and hope for sprouts. I haven't tried this fourth option, but I think it could work.

hard pic with the sun shining in from the back ... when did you plant them ... if last year.. did you cut them back in fall or spring??? its not a watering issue.. and they look rather healthy .. and i doubt a disease or bug issue ... your one problem ... if you have one ... is that you dont have another shorter plant in front of it.. to hide what is probably normal growth ... btw.. and what i cant see.. what is the short growth that seems to be in the middle of the clump ... if thats new growth.. then i suspect its last years plant.. and should have been cut back in late winter.. or early spring. .. so that all that 'old wood' would have been removed ... if im guessing wrong.. so be it ... water when your plants need it.. insert finger.. or use a trowel.. hand shovel or a tablespoon.. and dig down a couple inches.. and find out about moisture at root level.. then water accordingly ... its really the only way to do it.. because we cant know your weather.. soil.. drainage.. etc.. in your garden ... ken

davidrt28. I am also in Zone 7 so I appreciate your advice. I looked at that thread. I think that next year I'll take cuttings. But can you leave them in water all winter or is the idea to just grow a smaller potted plant to have in the spring.? I have to mention that the only one to survive down there was a 4 foot Guarantia Mexicana which actually bloomed a beautiful blue plume in the window in February. I put it in the garden yesterday looking raggedy and tired and gave it a gentle support so I hope it will perk up. The black and blue is buried deep in a heavy pot still in the basement. ( Cannot carry it without help) There is an Amistad with it . Both showing no signs of life , alas. I may lift them, put them in the dirt and see what happens. The ones that usually overwinter outside did not like the recent 14 below temps in Feb. A Texas one, quite common, a fuschia color. looks gone but seems to have shot a tiny seedling into the corner of its pot. I have Brenthurst a tall, pastel pink and Texas red that reliably reseed everywhere each year even in the lawn and the gravel ! I love salvias and recently discovered a mail order company in California: Flowers by the Sea, that has 900 varieties and excellent advice about each of them as well as histories, geographical origins, shade or sun, blooming times. It would make delightful reading even if one does not garden.