Garden column: Want to perk up your landscape? It's easy with color

Warm temperatures are finally here and plants are bursting out with new growth. Spend some time in the yard to tidy up plants and add splashes of color to jazz up the landscape.

If you select the right plants, color could extend into fall or when we get our first frost.

Many herbaceous perennials look as if they missed winter altogether, but are leggy and in need of trimming. Now is the perfect time to cut these back; it will also result in a more compact plant with additional flowers.

Always wear gloves when pruning plants, especially those that exude a sticky or milky sap. Sap from agapanthus is a skin irritant, so gloves are a must. Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) has a milky sap that is also a skin irritant.

Make especially sure you avoid getting the sap from milkweed in your eyes because it can cause chemical burns to the cornea. Don't wipe your face with your hands or shirt to remove sweat and grime when pruning these plants. If this ever happens, go to an eye doctor immediately for treatment. Symptoms include a burning, painful sensation, followed by swelling, blurry vision and temporary blindness. According to reports, vision loss can become permanent, so be careful.

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I always look for plants that will come back year after year and require minimal care. Call me a lazy gardener or thrifty consumer.

Every year when I purchase new plants, I always look for interesting salvias as they are one of my go-to plants. Some of the perennial salvias already look great and are full of color. My salvia hybrid Wendy's Wish is covered in magenta blooms. This plant is 3 feet tall with a matching spread, and it attracts butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Mystic Spires is another favorite that comes back year after year and has beautiful blue flower spikes.

One new variety that I really like is the Saucy series, available in red and wine, although I have only found the red color at local nurseries. Saucy Red Salvia splendens is a perennial in zones 9 and 10, is heat tolerant, sterile and self-cleaning (meaning no dead-heading). Bright red tubular flower spikes attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Plants mature at 24 to 36 inches in height with a matching spread. Use these plants as the showstoppers in containers, as border plants in the landscape or as accent plants in mixed beds.

Another promising variety that I purchased locally to try this year is Salvia Sallyfun, which is a compact plant with pale blue flower spikes. Plants will mature at 15 to 24 inches tall with a spread of 10 to 18 inches and can be used as a border plant or in containers. So far, the bees and butterflies love it, so time will tell how it survives the elements and if it is a true perennial in our area.

Look for another newer variety called salvia guaranitica Amistad, which is related to the older blue and black salvia. This one was found in Argentina and was introduced into the U.S. in 2013. You may also find this one listed as Friendship Sage, which is the translation from the Spanish word amistad because the founder was so enamored with this plant, he felt that it should be shared. This variety is considered an improvement because it is said to be less invasive due to spreading underground rhizomes, but it still has the striking dark purple flowers with black calyxes. Use this one as a background plant as it reaches 3 to 5 feet tall with a matching spread. Similar to other salvias, it does best with a little protection from hot afternoon sun.

Who can go wrong with pentas if you are trying to add color or bring in butterflies, bees and hummingbirds? Available in pink, red, lavender and white flower colors, and some with variegated foliage, they are very versatile plants in the landscape or in containers. They vary in height depending on the variety, but they thrive in a sunny location and well-drained soil. Two popular series include the Graffiti series, which is more compact, maturing at 12 to 15 inches tall, while the Starcluster series reaches 2 feet with a matching spread.

Angelonia is a great performer in Florida and is referred to as the "summer snapdragon." Plants reach 2 to 3 feet in height and have an upright growth habit with colorful, fragrant flower spikes of white, pink, purple, or blue. Unlike snapdragons, the flowers require no deadheading. For best performance, place in full sun in a fertile, moist soil.

I planted angelonia as border plants and they have survived the elements for three years. In early spring, I prune them back to 3 to 4 inches tall removing all the damaged growth. Then, I add fertilizer and - voila - they regrow and flower until the first frost.

Although not a perennial, coleus is always a wonderful addition because of its colorful foliage. Pay attention to the plant tags, as some coleus grow best in sun whereas others prefer some shade. If soils are sandy, add some organic matter to help reduce water needs. There are lots of single- or multi-color foliage varieties from which to choose. Try pairing Big Red Judy with a bi-color coleus like Pineapple Splash that has bright yellow leaves with dashes of crimson coloring. Or consider Wasabi (chartreuse) planted next to Velvet Mocha (bronze to chocolate) or Dirty Martini (burgundy). Another nice combination planting is Frilly Milly (brick red), Splish Splash (red and green) and/or Lemon Twist (chartreuse and red wine).

Another great annual is the zinnia Profusion series, a no-brainer for low-maintenance color. Used as a landscape border or container plant, they reach 8 to 14 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

They are self-cleaning so, unlike other zinnias, no dead heading is required. They are also disease- and heat-resistant. Orange, white and cherry have been recognized as "All American Selections Gold Medal Winners," which indicates they have performed well in trials nationwide.

Instead of using marigolds in the heat, this would be a better choice for the bright yellow and orange colors that are often teamed with blues and purples.

There are many other options for annuals and perennials. New plants are arriving at local garden centers now that the heat is on. Refer to these links for more information on annuals http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg319, and on perennials http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg035.

Terry Brite DelValle is a horticulture extension agent with the Duval County Extension Service and the University of Florida/IFAS.