Lavender Plants
A Quick Guide to Lavender Plants from Popular Plants
Lavender plants are extremly popular plants, and are seen in many gardens across the UK and the world. The best way to understand plants is to start by learning where they originate from and then try to re-create (as best as possible) the same environment.
Lavender plants originate from hotter climates than the UK and, without digging the current weather, a lot drier climates. It is thought that they were introduced from the Meditteranean so climate wise a good few degrees better than here. Also take note of the soil - drier soil, and a lot finer - almost dusty in some areas. It is actually amazing where lavender will grow - happy in the poorest quality soil ever, but beware of heavy or clay soils...
General rule of thumb - not to do...
- Never plant lavender in clay or heavy soils
- Never plant lavender in shady areas (partial shade will be OK)
- Never plant lavender in areas which may become waterlogged
- Never water lavender plants in the winter
General rule of thumb - best practice
- Plant lavender in the sunniest spot in the garden or the hottest spot
- Plant lavender in well drained soil
- Add sand to soil to help drainage
Tip
Lavender can be planted in raised borders, or on mounds created on top of your existing ground. It is always advisable to add some sand to the soil when creating these man made additions to your garden, as this will help drainage, and also sand will keep the lavender roots just that little bit warmer during the winter months.
Trimming Lavender Plants
Lavender plants love being trimmed back, and if you want your plant to last more than a couple of years it is an essential annual task.
The best time of year to trim back lavender plants is late summer or autumn - once the lavender plants have finished flowering. Trim the flower stems right back into the plant - clear away any dead or brown pieces from the plants at the same time. Do not be afraid of cutting the lavender back harder than this if you wish to, but avoid cutting too far into the woody part of the plant as it may potentially not recover. If you have a lavender plant which is looking leggy, or there is not growth on the bottom half of the plant trim back harder than usual to encourage new growth.
Keeping Lavender Plants in Pots
Lavender plants can be kept in patio pots and grown as lovely specimens which can brighten up areas which may seem a bit dull - they will also add amazing aromatic qualities to sunny patios and really make it a joy to sit early evening with the bees buzzing around doing their work. Also keeping lavender in patio pots does give you the option of bringing inside in severe weather.
When keeping lavender in pots the 'over-wintering' period will offer slightly different challenges. Some people advise wrapping the pots in bubble wrap, or fleecing the plants - I would not bother with either, and let the plant decide whether to survive or not. Some of the best lavender I have grown have been left outside over winter, and it really does seperate the strongest from the weakest. French lavenders are unlikely to survive outside in the winter, so they will need to be brought inside. When keeping lavender in polytunnels or glass houses over winter, please be aware that they must be kept as dry as possible during this period - and also only water in the morning if needed otherwise on a frosty night the water (and roots) will just freeze.
Making Sure Your Lavender Plants Flowers
When you buy lavender plants they will more than likely be planted in plastic plant pots, the age of the plant will distinguish the size of pot and plant. English lavender needs to be over-wintered to flower the following year (French varieties not the case), so be aware that smaller lavender in 9cm pots may not always give a full bloom in the 1st year. To guarantee buying a 9cm potted lavender that will flower in year 1 I would recommend buying early season (march/april) where nurseries are selling stock they have been growing since late summer /early autumn the year before. Lavender plants in 9cm pots bought in june/july or later are probably stock grown from march of the same year.
Best Lavender Varieties for you
This is a very basic guide, and I will write a more comprehensive guide in the near future
Hedging - best to stick with English varieties such as
- Lavender Munstead
- Lavender Old English
- Lavender Vera
- Lavender Grey Hedge
Border Edges - Difference between border edge and hedge is the height, although dwarf lavenders do not grow high, they offer more compact plants, which in time will offer a thick line of lavenders.
- Lavender Hidcote Blue
- Lavender Hidcote Pink
- Lavender Rosea
- Lavender Twickle Purple
There are lots more lavender varieties which are described as dwarf or compact - above are just a few examples
Best French varieties (stoechas)
- Lavender Rocky Road
- Lavender Tiarra
- Lavender Devonshire Compact (more than one variety)
More Information to follow, we look forward to your next visit
