Hi everyone!
I'm sure this question has been asked many times, but can't find it thru "search".
I'm growing lavender in my rose beds, but they are small and seem to be struggling. My soil is good but not sandy. I've seen Lavender grown on TV and it looks like it is in sand. Am I killing it with kindness and too rich of a soil? I now have 8 huge plants to transplant and want them to grow!
Before I till in composted horse manure and alfalfa, I'd like to know if I should include sand.
HELP!
Thanks in advance:)
Growing Lavender
As far as I know, lavender doesn't like rich soil. Also supposed to be somewhat drought tolerant once established. Mine is growing next to a rose bush and is quite shrubby now. I carefully avoid the plant when I fertilize the others in my flowerbed.
Hope this helps,
Eileen
It definitely likes sandy soil for good drainage and lots of sun to discourage fungus. Some of the hardiest lavenders I've seen are growing on the fringes of yards with seemingly little water, very drought tolerant as per eileenmlamb. You may have to experiment in your yard to find where it will be happy. ;-)
I have a row of lavender growing up next to my garage, where it's so dry and the soil is so awful not much else will live there.
I have noticed, though, in the years when I've planted new plants, they didn't seem to do a whole lot of growing the first year. Bu the next year they were nice and full and tall, though.
I've grown lavender for years and it's the one plant I feel like I really "know". From everything I've read and seen from my own lavender, they thrive in incredibly poor soil and need good drainage, as was stated above. But they don't necessarily need sandy soil. Check to see how quickly the water drains around your lavender when you soak the ground. If the water drains quickly your drainage is fine. If there is still standing water 10 minutes later then there are several things you can do: amend your soil with coarse sand and even a bit of small gravel, and if you think your lavender might need even more drainage help, you can plant it in a mound that's a few inches taller than the rest of the bed. As hart said they are slow growers the first year so as long as it's not yellow, wilting or brittle it's probably fine!
Hope this helps!
Claire
Thank you all soooo much for all your help! I have discovered what has been wrong with mine old lavender...way to much mulch close to the plant...finally pulled it away and it's taking off like crazy! My soil must be draining fine, since we've had about 6" of rain this month. All the Lavender is planted in my rose beds and everything is bursting at the seams!
I finally learned from a tv show that you should prune Lavender in the spring, down to the lowest new growth...well, did that, and that was the trick!
Hope all this discussion has helped others out there trying to grow this wonderful plant. ;)
Ok, you knowledgable people! I have purchased "hardy" lavender plants for the last 3 years. They grow beautifully during the growing season, but they never come back the next year. I've grown them in several different spots in our yard, and they've done well, except for last year's, they didn't do so well. Those were planted in soil that's pretty heavy with clay, but good drainage. We keep things mulched pretty heavily, but all my other herbs come back every year. I just want to grow a bunch of lavender every year to use for various things like potpourri, sachets, dried arrangements, etc.: but I don't wanna have to replace it every single cottonpicking year!!!!! I live in Western North Carolina. Does anyone have ANY suggestions?? Thanks!
shaz... I grew lavendar somewhat successfully in Asheville for several years before I moved away this year. I say "somewhat" because I never knew if when I lost one it was because I kept moving them, or just to chance and winter. I always had a lot of winter die-back but the crowns survived and grew.
I had Munstead, and Hidcote strain, and unfortunately, the last place they were didn't have much drainage. Before that they did pretty well just out in the beds which were fairly well amended to combat the clay. I'd say the average life of mine was 3-5 years.
I should add: all but the Hidcote I started from seed.
Thanks, darius. I'll try those. I've tried growing from seed, and they just never came up. I DID finally have luck this year with growing bee balm and red mexican hat coneflower from seed. I'm ecstatic! I've been trying these three for years with no luck, so maybe this is my year!
Munstead and Hidcote do well here in Michigan. I had some struggling plants for many years, and for some reason they are doing well this year. Planted many new purchased plants this year too and all are flowering. The ONLY thing I did differently was to remove the mulch from around them. Seemed like it kept them from growing and sort of "molded" them...not sure what's going on, but glad they are better!
Good luck you guys in N.C.!
I've grown Munstead and Hidcote here and both do well and come back every year. My plants are eight years old now and still doing really well. The years I've mulched they come back more quickly, but I always remove the mulch as soon as the snow is gone, and then give them a heavy pruning, pulling out all the dead wood and cutting them back by about 1/3. Then I water HEAVILY for the next month-- but that is something I wouldn't recommend for everyone because I live in a VERY dry climate. I've also noticed that the side of my plants that gets the least amount of sun does have more dead wood that needs to be removed in the spring.
Claire
Here's a picture I took this morning.
Wow, I can smell them from Ohio, clairelise!
I wish I have that many. I am working on it.
That's simply gorgeous, Clairelise!
WOW Clairelise! I'd move to UT just to grow Lavender like that! Imagine, a hedge of Lavender..AHHHHHHHH You should be proud!
I do everything you do, but will never have that wonderful sight in my garden!
Kudo's!
Aw, thanks everyone! :)
I know what you mean, sheran! I haven't had many flowers in the past for cutting, but this year I cut my first Golden Celebration rose and put it in a small vase with lavender. They were so pretty together! I can't wait to have other flowers to arrange with the lavender.
What kind do you grow? My parents live in West Hills, (I think I told you once in another thread) and my mother has been trying to find a lavender that will do well for her.
Claire
Clairelise,
What a beautiful picture. I can't wait, I have a spot perfect for some lavender. What variety is in the picture?
Jos
Thanks, Jos. I think it's Hidcote Superior.
Claire
clairelise,
That is absolutely beautiful. I too have tried and failed to grow lavender. But you make me want to try again.
I have just two lavender plants - a Spanish lavender and a French lavender. They are planted in a bed of miniature roses. They haven't bloomed this season so far. I would like to ask if I add sand to the soil to increase good drainage, will it effect the roses? Clairelise, my son and his wife live in West Hills, too.
From what little I know about roses they prefer well drained sandy soil. When I was looking up information on what to do to ammend my clay soil before I planted roses, everything I found said to add sand. But maybe someone with more experience with roses would have more information.
West Hills is one of the few remaining "nice" areas of the San Fernando Valley. Every time we visit I really enjoy being back home and just wish we could bring some of their weather back to Utah. Do your son and daughter-in-law like it in West Hills?
Yes, Clairelise. They like it in West Hills. I first moved to Reseda in 1952. About 15 years ago we moved to the Inland Empire. Sheran, Have you noticed that the sun is burning plants that it did not last year? Our pastor says it is because of the ozone layer. He said it was hotter last year.
Welcome to Dave's CB, Yes some things are burning, the weirdest being my lemon balm which actually turned a reddish color over one three day period when even my skin was yelling 'the sun is being mean'.
Welcome from Utah's canyons, I've stopped in Perris a number of times over years of visiting Cal.
Blooms with a View,
My oldest daughter and her family live in SLC. Perris is a nice area in the Inland Empire. Today, however, is supposed to be 102 degrees. When it is hot in Perris, it is really hot. I am kinda worried about the plants. Is there anything I can do extra to keep my plants alive besides what I am always doing? Watering in the morning and evening. Take care, Chuck and Loida
This message was edited Jul 21, 2004 1:00 PM
This message was edited Jul 21, 2004 1:03 PM
I have heard that Lavender likes to be neglected but I have grown Lavender in both rich and un-improved soils. Both have done well. Infact the ones in the better soil with more watering seem to do better. I have grown several different varieties of Lavender this way.
That is interesting, Cottage_Rose_Z5. I wonder if different lavenders react differently. My Munstead turned yellow when I watered and fed them. Since then I left them alone and they were healthy and getting bushier.
I had asked the question on the Rose forum when a poster suggested lavender as a companion plant for roses. I wondered then how lavender could be grown next to a heavy feeders such as roses. Then I guess it really depends on what kind of lavender.
drop
I grow Lavender with my roses with no problems. I think they look great together. I have succesfully grown some huge clumps of Lavender in my mixed flower beds.
Maybe the heavier feeding plants in a mixed bed use more of the fertilizer/nutrients, and the lavender gets less?
It makes sense, too. Thanks, eileenmlamb.
I was doing some online research on Lavender last night and came across quite a bit of interesting anf helpful information.
Heres some info from www.highcountrygardens.com/nl/nl57.html that points out a very important factor on growing Lavender:
"These plants grow well in a wide range of soils, even compost-enriched garden loams, as long as they are well drained. However, heavy, poorly-drained clay soils can be fatal".
For more info on growing Lavender click on the above link or go to www.google.com and type in "growing Lavender".
Aha! Well that would explain why lavender does well in mixed beds. I wonder if there's any difference between varieties, also, for how much water/food they need or can tolerate.
eileen
I never directly fertilized my Lavender or worried about any they would get from neighboring plants that I do fertilize. On the other hand I can't remember if I omitted them when foliar spraying the other plants fish/seaweed emulsion.
About the only soil enriching they would get would be from the wood chips that I apply to the flower beds yearly breaking down.
While they say Lavender thrive on neglect, I couldn't help but notice a few years back ago I had some in a dry non-improved soil area and they were stunted compared to the huge clumps in my flower beds.
I guess the key is to just make sure they are in well drained soil but the appreciate enriched soil and I assume annual applications of compost would be the best way to improve your Lavenders growing soil.
eileen
On the different varieties I can only suggest you try some that are rated for your zone and see which do best for you. What may grow well for me may not for you and vice versa. I haven't found the most common Lavenders usually available locally, Hidcote and Munstead that impressive.
I have grown at least 10 or so varieties and some do seem to do better than others.
The ones that have done the best for me (so far) are "Fat Spike" (supposidly not hardy in Z5) "Lavender Lady" and "Seals 7 Oakes". I am growing others that do well but these are the biggest clumps and most productive.
I bought several new in Lavender plants in 2004 but its too soon to tell on these yet.
"Grosso" and "Provence" are the varieties commercial growers use so you might want to try them.
Thanks for the info, Cottage_Rose. I think I saw a couple of the varieties you mention in a herb catalog I have.
Besides the unknown variety I have which is growing well in zone 5, I also have Goodwin Creek Gray (hardy to zone 7 I think) in a container with some annuals. My plan is to overwinter indoors in the cool basement (50 degrees, approx). Just need a strong back to lift the pot ... darn kids leave home just when they get big enough to be useful! :)
I killed 6 lavender plants before I realized that my clay soil was preventing proper drainage. Being to lazy to go buy a bag of sand and dig it in ;-), I tried another approach: I just watered the 2 new plants a whole lot less than I did the previously killed plants. LOL It worked. And now a year on, those 2 plants are nearly 1.5 meters tall. Still waiting for blooms, but they really are lovely and smell great even with "just" the foliage. So even very clay soil can work for lavender so long as you make sure they don't get too much water when they are young.
-Julie
eileen,
'darn kids leave home just when they get big enough to be useful!" I think that's what they're afraid of, being useful.
On moving large containers and planters, I use a handtruck (borrowed) and bunjee cords or rope. I also have one of those straps that has what looks 'like a buckle with teeth,' that snaps in place. I have used that also, and even on the luggage carrier.
Good idea. I think my Dad has one of those straps w/teeth, and I know he has a million bungee cords. He loves those things. Hmm, now to find out if he also has a hand truck! The basement is accessible from the deck, down some slippery old wooden stairs. I think it used to have those "cellar doors" before they put the deck on the house. A hand truck would be a much safer way to lower a heavy pot (or 10) down to the basement, thanks for the idea.
Eileen