Where’s the best place to plant a lavender bush?
Lavender is a hardy plant that prefers a Mediterranean-like climate — dry, sunny, and with good air circulation. Most lavender plants don’t thrive in very humid or colder climates (although English lavender can tolerate some colder weather). Dead-head French lavenders throughout the summer as they’ll flower continuously from May to September. Deadheading will also encourage more flowering through the season.The English lavender leaves in winter will turn grey in color and almost look dead. But… in spring you’ll start to see new green leaves emerge from the base of plant and bright green leaves will begin to grow at the top.Lavender is best planted in April or May as the soil naturally warms up and when many fresh plants become available in garden centres. Lavender should never be planted in winter when young plants are vulnerable to rotting in cold, wet soils.While Lavender is usually regarded as a summer-blooming flower, some Lavender plants are early bloomers with their magnificent blooms appearing early in spring. Others are late bloomers with blooms opening up in midsummer and lasting until late summer. Some bloom almost continuously from spring to summer’s end.
What is the lifespan of a lavender plant?
However with proper care and trimming, lavender (both English and Lavendin hybrids—Grosso, Provence, etc. Some gardeners have even documented plants that live up to 24 years! Lavenders demand full sun, although afternoon shade may be appreciated in the hottest climates. Plants are very drought resistant once established, but will flower better if not allowed to dry out.Lavender has adapted to the Mediterranean climate and requires little water. Nevertheless, here you can learn what you need to pay attention to when watering lavender. Lavender (Lavandula) is relatively undemanding in cultivation and easy to care for.Lavender is happiest with full sun. It is NOT tolerant of shade or overcrowding from other plants. It is an easy keeper and does not need fertilizing, staking or mulching. Mature lavender plants are drought tolerant and can develop root rot and fungal disease with overwatering.Lavender contains essential oils that act as natural repellents for rats and other pests, such as mosquitoes, flies, and moths. This perennial plant can grow up to 60 cm tall with gray-green leaves and purple-blue flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer.Plant lavender in spring, once all chances of frost have passed. This beautiful, fragrant herb is a great addition to raised beds, in-ground gardens, and growing in containers. Space lavender plants 12 to 18 inches apart in an area with plenty of sunlight and sandy, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.
How long does lavender take to grow?
Lavender grows slowly during the fall and plants not survive the winter without good root development and heavy mulching. Space lavender plants 18-24 inches apart into light, well aerated, gravelly soil. Lavender grows about 1-2 feet tall and wide depending on variety and takes 3 years to reach full size. By cutting back your lavender at least once a year, you will stimulate the growth of lush new foliage and flowers and help to maintain your plant’s shape and fullness.Being evergreen, Lavender provides you with structure year round, however its foliage develops and then dies back on an almost perennial basis, coming out of dormancy and developing anew in the spring and providing a wonderful aroma until the autumn after which it becomes dormant once again.Best Time to Take Lavender Cuttings As mentioned, the best time to take your cuttings or cuttings is between June and September. However, if you are taking softwood cuttings, you should know that this can only be done in the spring when the growth is fresh and young.Every spring, apply a slow-release, microbial, mineral-rich feed such as seaweed/kelp, shellfish, blood meal, or bone meal, which will provide all the fertilization lavender needs. Excess fertilizer can become toxic to the lavender’s root system.Left to their own devices, lavender can become woody and ungainly, so to keep plants compact and attractive, it’s best to trim them annually in late summer, just after flowering has finished. Remove any spent flower stalks and about 2.
How do you take care of a lavender bush?
Place your container grown lavender plants somewhere they receive full sun (at least 8 hours per day) and water them sparingly. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, but don’t let it get so dry that the plant wilts. Lavender likes heat, and many varieties won’t survive a cold winter. Goodluck! If you’re growing potted lavender, you should water when the soil is bone dry. When you water, you want to water thoroughly so that the roots are saturated, then let the soil dry out between watering. For established plants, you only need to water every two weeks.Lavender survives well in dry conditions, so you’ll only have to water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. Promote vibrant blooms by regularly feeding with water-soluble plant food. Harvest stems once they’re large enough for use. Avoid harvesting more than one-third of the plant at a time.When & Where to Plant Lavender. Light: Lavender needs full sun and well-drained soil to grow best. In hot summer climates, afternoon shade may help them thrive. Soil: Lavender grows best in low to moderately-fertile soils, so don’t amend the soil with organic matter before planting.Lavender plants undergo a natural dormancy period every winter. The leaves on your lavender plants will change from their deep, summertime green to a silvery, sage green. Your plants are not dead, merely resting. In cold climates, we advise not pruning nor covering your plants in the wintertime.When it comes to lavender, patience is definitely in order. Light, cosmetic pruning throughout the summer and early Fall is OK, but save heavy pruning until Spring. It’s OK to snip dead flower stalks any time. Best wishes for a successful lavender growing season!
What does lavender look like in winter?
Lavender plants undergo a natural dormancy period every winter. The leaves on your lavender plants will change from their deep, summertime green to a silvery, sage green. Your plants are not dead, merely resting. Pests: Whiteflies and aphids can suck the life out of lavender. Wrong soil pH: Lavender needs slightly alkaline soil with a pH between 6. Root rot: This disease attacks in extra wet, waterlogged soil that lacks drainage. Crown rot: Excessive moisture can cause crown rot which yellows leaves.Lavender plants need very little fertilizer. They will suffer when fertilized frequently with chemical fertilizers, especially when applied in the late summer and fall. This delays them from hardening off for winter and can result in freeze damage or death come next spring.Lavender is a plant that attracts pollinators, such as native bees and butterflies. Lavender may also repel some insects like mosquitoes. The type of lavender can influence the amount of compounds it contains.
Does lavender need to be cut back each year?
Despite its delicate attributes, lavender is also remarkably hardy. It’s drought tolerant and doesn’t mind poor soils. Once it gets established, lavender only requires a little bit of maintenance and twice annual pruning to stay healthy and blooming to its fullest potential. If you’d like to add a stronger lavender scent to your garden, I recommend getting an English lavender variety such as Munstead if you can. Their scent tends to waft on gentle summer breezes without the need to be crushed/squeezed.Best Fragrant Lavender For Drying & Preserving ‘Provence’ is a lavandin, or hybrid lavender type, which are known for a high output of essential oils. It’s no surprise that ‘Provence’ is the lavender most frequently grown for use in scented products, including soaps, lotions, sachets, potpourri, and more.Pruning a lavender to the point where it has no foliage will most likely kill it, so prune back only in small increments. In spring, cut the foliage back by one third to stimulate new growth. Then, after the new foliage has grown in, cut that back by one third to stimulate new growth at the base of the plant.Deadheading French lavender during their long flowering period will encourage a second flush of flowers. This is essential for a flower garden that’s full of life.