Sage has a reputation for being extremely modest when it comes to caring for it. This applies all the more, the better the condition of the soil meets the requirements of the evergreen subshrub. The following overview provides all the important details.
These qualities characterize good sage soil
In order to understand the demands on the soil, a look at the natural distribution area of real sage gives more information. The popular herbal plant is native to the sun-drenched regions of the Mediterranean. Here it thrives on calcareous, moderately dry sandy soil up to an altitude of 900 meters. Valuable conclusions can be drawn from this for the herb garden:
- A mixture of loam, clay, sand and humus is ideal
- A fine, crumbly soil, loose and airy
- Far and wide no waterlogging in sight
- Preferably with a moderate lime content
Thus, sage feels particularly at home in the rock garden or gravel bed, as long as there is a minimum of humus. Thanks to its decorative ornamental value, the evergreen shrub is also ideal as a flowering perennial for planting on a south-facing slope or a sunny embankment.
Tips for improving the soil
If the soil at the selected location is not close enough to the ideal condition, optimization using aggregates can be considered. First check the current status. If a handful of soil cannot be shaped but falls apart, it is sandy soil. Clay soil, on the other hand, holds together as a ball. Alumina takes on a lustrous sheen when rubbed.
- In soil that is too sandy, incorporate sifted compost that has matured
- Dig up heavy soil in the previous year before the first frost
- Ice crystals break up the compaction as frost
- Sow a deep-rooted cover crop in spring, like lupins
- Mow the green manure in May and undermine it as mulch (€239.00).
- Add additional sand or fine-grained gravel
Natural additions such as primary rock flour, algae lime or AZ vital lime from specialist retailers ensure the desired lime content.
tips and tricks
Do not puzzle over the lime content of the soil in the sage bed. With the help of an uncomplicated test set from the hardware store, you can determine the specific value. A test strip uses a color reaction to indicate what you are dealing with. A pH of 7 to 8 is considered excellent for sage.
GTH