Simple guide to lavender growing

Lavender (Lavandula) is an evergreen shrub with narrow ornamental silvery leaves and flowers bunched into kernels. Lavender looks very decorative and growing and caring for this plant is not difficult. It blooms from June to October and of course it smells wonderful. Plants form dense clumps that grow to a height of 45–50 cm. Lavender can be shaped by pruning very well.

Where can you use lavender?

Lavender is often used to define pathways borders in your garden but it is also planted together with roses. It grows well in a pot too. Lavender attracts bees, bumblebees and butterflies and its scent and repels mosquitoes and aphids. Unfortunately, not all varieties tolerate cooler climates well, especially cold winters.

Photo: Pixabay

Planting lavender

Lavender needs a sunny location and a well-drained soil, preferably rich in calcium. If you have an acidic soil you may use chalk or dolomite to reduce the acidity. If you have a heavier soil in your garden, you need to create a drainage layer. Use pebbles or small pieces of a broken clay pot and place the pieces at the bottom of the planting hole. Lavender does not like waterlogged soil and drafts. You should choose a frost-resistant variety to grow lavender in our climate. Plant individual plants 30 to 40 cm apart.

Lavender pruning: is it necessary?

The basic care for lavender includes pruning. If you prune correctly you will get many new shoots and a dense crown. In spring, from March to April, you should cut and get rid of broken, bulging or damaged branches. Trim the remaining ones to stimulate formation of new shoots and creation of a dense crown. You should prune lavender every year. Regularly pruned plants will form a compact and dense shape and will be less susceptible to the destructive effects of heavy snow.

Fertilizing

A good idea is to spread a 2 cm thick layer of compost around the plant. Do it every spring. Cover lavender plants with straw, pine needles or dry leaves in autumn.

Lavender propagation

There are two ways to propagate lavender:

• Propagation by seeds. Lavender seeds germinate best when exposed to low temperatures. You can sow directly to ground in autumn, but the location must be protected from frost. You can also sow lavender seeds in early spring, but you need to make sure that no frost or freezing temperatures are coming.
• Propagation by layering. To do this, you need to bend the lowest lavender shoots to the ground in spring and anchor them (with a piece of bent wire for example) to the ground and cover them with a fertile soil. Keep the soil slightly moist. Attach the shoot to a straight support to help the new plant grows vertically. In autumn, when lavender shoots have rooted sufficiently, dig them up and cover them.

Source: https://abecedazahrady.dama.cz/clanek/zavoni-levandule-i-u-vas
https://www.ireceptar.cz/zahrada/levandule-lekarska-korunkata-hybrid-lavandin-druhy-odrudy-pestovani-20200331.html
https://bylinkovyraj.net/levandule-lekarska/

Preview photo: Pixabay