Need advise on lavender propagation.

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Gustichock Tandil, Argentina(Zone 10b) Dec 21, 2006

Perhaps this kind of question might sound stupid, but… since I have no experience in herbaceous plants, I’ve decided to post a comment in this forum.
I want to buy a couple of lavender plants and then start to propagate them myself. I have a small piece of land (may be 80 mts. by 60 mts.) and of course I don’t want to buy all the plants I need to cover this area with lavender. It rains pretty often there. Soil is deep black, rich in humus.
Should I propagate them by seed or by cuttings. I have no idea about any of these methods so if anybody has a clue or a good tip to give so I can follow… I’m all ears!!!!

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philomel Castelnau RB Pyrenée, France(Zone 8a) Dec 21, 2006

Lavender is happiest in poor, free draining, sandy/gritty soil. You may find you have trouble with the roots rotting if it is a rather damp position, with humus rich, and therefore moisture retentive, soil. So sorry, but what you have on offer doesn't sound ideal from the lavender's point of view.
It may work if you can plant each one in a specially prepared pocket of gritty soil, preferably with some porous 'crocks' in the bottom, but I have found that this can lead to a 'sump' situation with water gathering in the pocket - but then my surrounding soil is clay.

However lavender is easily propogated from cuttings rooted in gritty/sandy compost. Avoid covering them with plastic etc as you would with some cuttings - they like dry air not humid. The best time of year, depending on your climate, is usually May/June in the northern hemisphere, but cuttings taken right up until autumn can be successful.

It can also be propogated from seed.
Lavender is really more of a shrub than herbaceous - it is evergreen and doesn't die down each year. It will need pruning after flowering to keep it in a good shape and growing vigorously. Old growth is very woody.

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Gustichock Tandil, Argentina(Zone 10b) Dec 21, 2006

Thank you very much!!!!!! You are right! Lavender is kind of semi-woody.
It's almost summer here... so it is the best time to do cuttings, right?
Thanks a lot Philomel!

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philomel Castelnau RB Pyrenée, France(Zone 8a) Dec 21, 2006

When does summer start for you then?

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Gustichock Tandil, Argentina(Zone 10b) Dec 22, 2006

Today! (December 21st.)

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betterbloom Blythe, CA(Zone 10b) Dec 24, 2006

I'm jealous, I hate winter.

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