Lavender will develop in any cheap backyard soil in full solar or very mild shade that’s not too waterlogged. Additionally they come into their very own in pots and tubs. Most are pretty hardy even in colder areas, however French Lavender is much less hardy and desires a sheltered spot.
Use a well-draining peat-free potting soil, ideally loam-based (John Innes) or at the very least with added John Innes compost.
As a result of lavender wants a number of mild and air year-round, it makes a poor houseplant, however it can survive in cool, vibrant conservatories. Gardeners who crave winter lavender could wish to contemplate slicing and drying some flowers in the summertime for winter ornament.
Plant lavenders within the spring – no fertilizer or fertilizer is required – and whereas water is usually wanted within the first few months, they will deal with themselves in subsequent years.
Lavender blooms in summer season and may be pruned earlier than blooming in mid-spring by slicing to take away frost-damaged or untidy progress. Pruning after flowering is most well-liked, nonetheless, when the pale flower stalks are trimmed together with about an inch of the inexperienced shoot.
Lavender won’t develop again if previous naked wooden is pruned. When vegetation turn out to be previous, haggard and gnarled with few flowers, alternative is important. Thankfully, lavender grows simply from cuttings, ideally taken in late summer season, though early summer season and fall cuttings are sometimes profitable.
Select wholesome non-flowering shoots from the present season’s progress, 7-10 cm lengthy within the morning whereas stuffed with moisture, slicing just under a leaf joint or node with a really sharp knife or pruning shears.
Fill medium-sized 4-inch (10 cm) diameter pots with peat-free multi-purpose potting soil to which 50 % grit or perlite has been added.
Take away the decrease leaves, protecting solely these on the highest half of the slicing and insert the naked a part of the stem into the slicing compost.
Water the container and canopy with a white or clear plastic bag and safe. Depart in a heat, shady however not darkish place. As soon as rooting has begun, regularly loosen the plastic bag till you lastly take away it. Let the cuttings develop by the winter and repot them within the spring.
Lavender additionally grows effectively from seed, both stored or bought, sown within the spring in order that the seedlings have all summer season to develop earlier than winter.
Lavender is free from vital ailments and pests. Salivary bugs are widespread, however do no hurt.
Please don’t take any cuttings or vegetation with you on vacation as a extremely damaging bacterial plant illness known as Xylella is present in some areas however not but within the UK.
