Start with healthy plants that have developed root systems. To calculate the spacing for lavender hedge you simply have to find out the size of your lavender variety at maturity and then plant each lavender at slightly less then half the width of the spread of the lavender at full size.. However, if you like to feed the birds that visit your garden leave the spent flowers in place towards the end of the flowering season as food for seed-eating birds. Start the seeds 6 to 12 weeks before warm weather hits. Lavenders do not tolerate waterlogged environments; they need a well-drained site to develop into healthy plants. Planting Time. However, the plugs need to be carefully looked after for several months before they are big enough to be planted in your garden. Pruning lavender is all about ensuring that this perennial plant thrives year after year. See pictures of varieties for USDA Zones 5 - 11. Lavender, an herb with many culinary uses, also makes a stunning addition to borders and perennial gardens, providing sweeping drifts of color from early summer into fall. The Lavender plant is a very popular garden plant, and one which rewards richly those who know how to grow lavender. [2] X Research source Blue Line: We prune our lavender in early April (New Zealand autumn).Prune back all shoots at least 1/3 of the plant. Evergreen lavender shrubs (Lavandula spp.) Check the soil around the lavender with a moisture meter and do not allow the soil to dry out. Try to avoid planting in July, August, December, and January. After drying the water completely water the plant again. Lavender is an easy-to-grow flower that instils peace, creates a blanket of colour and has a serene fragrance that is unsurpassed. Growing lavender attracts beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies, and many varieties resist deer and rabbits. Turning to Lavender's love of warmth, the best time to plant is from mid-April in an early spring right up to the end of July because the soil is warming up or already warm. Lavender is a tough, adaptable plant that grows beautifully without a lot of fuss and moving a lavender plant to a new location isn’t difficult as long as you prepare the new spot carefully.. Lavender ‘Provence’ require soil to be pH 6.5-8. As a dried flower it’s a common element in potpourri blends. This is especially important during periods of hot, dry weather. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in art with a minor in English. If you have heavy soil, improve drainage by adding horticultural grit to the planting hole before planting. when planting multiple plants, you can amend the soil for each planting hole, or amend the whole bed before planting. Plant lavender in spring, once all chances of frost have passed. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Lavender is a popular and versatile plant. Lavender is one of the easiest plants to grow from cuttings. Lavender plants are the perfect addition to the lazy gardener's yard. Simply turn the pot upside down and tap the plant out of the pot into your hand. Learn how to plant, one of the most dependable flowering perennials in the garden. Unfortunately, once a plant has become woody and leggy it is very rarely possible to bring it back to a full, compact shape. In late summer or early fall, after the last flush has faded, prune your Lavender stems down to an inch above the wood. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We have a whole post dedicated to pruning lavender check it out here. Lavender prefers full sun and well-draining soil. Red Line: Never cut down to wood base.. Leslie Rose has been a freelance writer publishing with Demand Studios since 2008. Care for your cuttings by keeping the soil moist and giving the plant lots of indirect sunlight. Read more. Lavender needs fast-draining soil and a very sunny spot. Water your lavender infrequently -- once every two weeks. When pruning it's important to retain the green foliage and don't cut back into the old wood. How to prune lavender. Prepare. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. They are easy to grow and associate well with other shrubs, perennial plants and roses. It will not tolerate a shady and damp position. Learn how to grow gorgeous lavender. It is best to plant lavender in April or May as the soils begin to warm up. Plant lavender with other drought-tolerant plants. Restrict watering your lavender plants to the hot summer months. produce silvery-green foliage year round and spikes of purple flowers in early summer. Spread a 1-inch layer of peat moss over the area where you wish to plant your lavender, and work it into the soil with a rake or a hoe. Once planted water your lavender well, and then water regularly during its first season. 5 of 11. These plants attract pollinators including bees and butterflies. If you wish to make a hedge with your lavender space them 12in (30cm) apart and 18in (45cm) if it is a larger cultivar. Your Lavender's crown should stick up about 1 in. Don’t fertilize; it's not necessary. When choosing your plants, keep in mind that lavender is native to the Mediterranean, where the winters are cool and moist and the summers are hot and dry. Give plants 2-3 feet with 3-6 feet between rows. However, lavenders will also grow in semi-shade, provided the soil conditions are met. This is a cheaper way of buying lavender. Newly transplanted lavender requires a bit of tender loving care until the roots are established. With its silvery-green foliage, upright flower spikes and compact shrub-like form, lavender is ideal for creating informal hedges. Gardeners in the tropics should buy lavender plants during the dry season and treat them as a temporary potted plant. If your soil is heavy, plant on a 20-30cm (8in-1ft) mound, ridge or in a raised bed where the roots will not sit in wet soil. Lavender is best grown in neatly clipped hedges, in pots, in a herb circle, knot garden or courtyard.Coastal gardens, rocky slopes and planter boxes are all good environments for lavender. Many of our favorite smelling herbs come from this family, lavender, mint, and rosemary to name a few. You can cultivate lavender as soon as the soil has warmed to above-freezing conditions. Sand can be added to improve drainage or planting on a mound will help. Although lavender is drought-tolerant once established, it will need diligent watering until it becomes established in its new spot. for a visual and fragrant impact. Lavender is a perennial plant in the Lamiaceae family, also known as the mint family. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Lavender (Lavandula) is a Mediterranean plant that’s easy to grow and maintain. All members of the Lavender family (have a look at our selection of lavender plants) enjoy being in the sun, and they demand well drained soil that is not too acidic.They are very happy on chalk however. When selecting your cutting, look for a stem that has both old and new growth, cutting it near the bottom of the plant. Depending on which type of lavender you keep and where you grow it, it can be grown as a perennial or annual flower. Lavender can be planted anytime from early spring to late autumn. This difficulty can be minimized by increasing the spaces between the plants so the air can move around them more easily. By Gardening101. Forming large bushes, it can be shaped into a hedge, so you will want to give it plenty of space to sprawl. However, if grown in wet soil, lavender can suffer from root rot, leading to its premature demise. Keep the seeds moist but not overly wet. Lavender likes at least eight hours of sun a day.Prepare 8-12 inches of well-draining soil for your plants. 2. Lavender ‘Phenomenal’ (Lavandula x Intermedia) is a perennial, evergreen, sub shrub that is one of the most versatile lavenders, capable of thriving in dry, hot and cold climates and is notable for tolerating some humidity. They are best grown in pots and placed somewhere frost-free during the winter. October's cooler temperatures, low to moderate rainfall and less intense sun work well for planting lavender. Lavender hedges are an extremely popular border shrub with bright, aromatic foliage that makes a fantastic addition to any garden. Best Lavenders for Pots and Containers. Check the soil with a moisture meter when in doubt. Autumn is the time of the year to take care of your lavenders. Plant in full sun and protect from strong winds. Simply turn the pot upside down and tap the plant out of the pot into your hand. Lavender thrives in most soil qualities, from poor to moderately fertile. When planting Lavender choose a site in full sun for the best results. Layering is a technique which basically involves: Taking a low, woody branch of your lavender plant. The fragrance everyone loves also makes it unattractive to rabbits and deer.Willowfield Lavender Farm . Not many plants can match Lavender for both fragrance, foliage and flowers. Prune off blossoms in late June or early July, at the height of color, to encourage a second round of blossoming by October. (2 cm) above the soil. Lavender can tolerate drought but not constantly wet soil. Space lavender plants 12 to 18 inches apart in an area with plenty of sunlight and sandy, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.7 to 7.3. Lavender is best planted as a young plant in the spring as the soil is warming up. The most common and easy to grow is English lavender. The best time to plant lavender is in early autumn or mid-spring. Lavender requires at least 6 hours of sunshine per day. Cutting a shallow notch in that branch. When it comes to plants that earn their keep, lavender is in the top rank. The best time to plant tender lavender is in spring, from March through to May. Next, you will want to make a hole approximately 3 inches deep (about the size of your lavender plant at this point). Before you prune lavender plants, think about the potential to create new lavender plants from the plants that you already own. Plant a large triangle of Sweet Lavender in the middle of a garden and surround it with Chocolate Scented Daisies. Planting on a slight mound can also help prevent water-logging. Or pea gravel and one-third organic compost ( Lavandula … lavender plant into a hedge, one! Eating My Box hedge just barely cover the seeds with soil within a couple of inches to is! 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Bushes, it can be a rewarding and fun way to do well is a very garden... You are planting in the garden that bask in the top rank style of.. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 - 11 many varieties resist deer and.... For its relaxing properties, and the flowers are spectacular and come on in garden... 5 cm ) to help retain moisture remain upright gardeners in the pot cosmetic damage to the hot afternoon,.