Flower Love
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.
Where to plant
Lavender looks great in flower borders, herb gardens and as a low hedge or edging to a border. It also grows well in containers.
Lavender is a Mediterranean plant (in needs if not always in geographic origin) and needs lots of sun and fast-draining soil. It will not survive long in shady, damp or extremely cold conditions.
It prefers poor, dry or moderately fertile soil, including chalky and alkaline soils. Lavender will not thrive in heavy clay soil or any soil that becomes
Describes soil or potting compost that is saturated with water. The water displaces air from the spaces between soil particles and plant roots can literally drown, unless they are adapted to growing in waterlogged conditions. Waterlogging is common on poorly drained soil or when heavy soil is compacted.
Dig over any free-draining soil and remove the weeds before planting. 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 easy to plant and takes just a few minutes.
Plant the lavender as soon as possible after buying
Space plants about 90cm (3ft) apart if growing in groups
If planting a hedge, space plants 30cm (1ft) apart or 45cm (18in) for larger cultivars
After planting, water regularly, especially in dry weather, for the first season
Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost:• Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. • Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers – a wide range of commercially produced composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, coir, peat, sand and fertiliser, although you can mix your own.
Plant the lavender so it sits at the same level it was in its previous pot
Water well, then water at regular intervals (once or twice a week) during summer, if weather is hot and the compost begins to dry out.
A method of growing new plants from parts of an existing plant, such as sections of root, stem, leaf or bud. When prepared correctly and planted in the right conditions, they can produce roots and eventually become independent plants. There is a wide range of different methods for taking cuttings, depending on the plant and time of year.
cuttings after flowering in late autumn, preferably from new flushes of growth. Plants grown from cuttings will be identical to the parent plant.
