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Caring for your Lavender
Growing Lavenders
All of our lavenders are hardy to semi hardy, and where possible should be
bought in to the greenhouse for the winter. In sheltered gardens it may be
possible to plant it out although it should be protected for the winter.
One of the best ways to find out if lavender does well in your area is to see if
your neighbours have nay in their gardens.
Place your lavender in the design that suits your environment and allows room
for air currents around the plant when they reach maturity. Lavender loves the
sun and hates to have its feet wet, so choose a position with good drainage and
plenty of sun. They are great candidates for rock gardens. When planting out,
remember to add plenty of grit to the hole. Monty Don once said "when it feels
like there is too much grit to soil, the mix is right!"
Place lavenders with plants that have similar sunlight and watering needs.
Select soil that is well worked, well drained and so loose you can dig it with
your hands. Once established in a garden, lavender is a hardy and drought
tolerant perennial.
Select a variety appropriate to your current planting scheme and pay attention
the size requirements for your variety. (Some get to 5 feet across!) Lavender
likes a slightly alkaline soil so adjust accordingly. Some sand and well rotted
manure or compost will get the plant off to a good start. Dont forget to add the
grit. Carefully knock the plant from its pot, spread the roots, and place the
plant in a hole that accommodates the spread roots. Mixing a little bone meal
into the soil mix below the roots will slowly release organics that promote both
root and leaf growth. Roots should not be placed directly on the meal, but on a
mix of soil and meal. If the stems are long enough, give the plant a little
shape by pruning, this will start the stems branching.
When you water the new transplant for the first time, you can use a liquid
fertilizer instead of plain water. A two-inch mulch of sand will moderate the
soil temperature and reflect heat and light up to the plant. More heat creates
more fragrant blooms. Remove the blossoms soon after they go over.
Prune your plant in the early spring to 2/3's of its size, leaving a couple of
inches of green above the woody stems. It seems drastic but this will stimulate
new growth. Don't be afraid to "give them a haircut". They respond very well to
being shaped because plants that are not pruned may have a tendency to fall open
in the middle and spread to become unsightly.
When your lavender has blossomed, the flowers can be picked for many uses. If
you desire a fresh bouquet, pick the blossoms when half of the flowers on the
blossom head have opened. If you are picking to dry the bundle for crafting or
sachet, pick when 3/4's to all of the blossoms are open.
In early Autumn, cut the GREEN of your lavender back so about one or two inches
of green remain. This will promote fuller growth for the next season and it will
look better throughout the winter. Don't cut into the wood if you can avoid it.
It is difficult for the older wood to produce new shoots. It's best for the
plant if the pruning tool you use is sharp and clean. We use a sickle, but hand
shears are good too.
Enjoy your lavender; it captures the essence of summer and is truly the sweetest
of herbs.
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