okay,,, when it states to prune back ,,does that mean it cut it down to a few inch from the ground and mulch over it?
this is the lavender I purchased from lowes, never flowered,,,label just said lavender,,,, can i dig it up and split it? do i clip it down? what do I do with the clippings? dry them out? HELP?
marierose
Looks happy. Sort of marginal for this zone, I wouldn't divide until spring when you can see how well it makes it through winter..
I grow lavender and don't give it any special care. It will pretty much die back in the winter. I just let it be and cut off the whatever is left (dead) in the spring before it starts growing. If you like, you can cut off and dry the stems and leaves for potpourri at any time. They're not as pretty as the flowers, but they still smell nice.
Sharon
My lavendar (storebought) did not bloom it's first year in the ground.
Make sure it gets lots of sun, and look forward to next spring!
Your lavendar looks very healthy. The less humidity it gets, the better. I have lavendar also. I let nature take it course in winter, cut off the dead growth then actually trim the tips to give it a nice shape. Mine has bloomed the last 2 years out of 3. Believe me, when it's ready you'll be pleasantly surprised.
when drying lavender,,, wha do I do,,,, bake it or some thing? at a low temp in the oven?
marierose
Hi Marierose
To dry lavender I hang the cut pieces upside down in a cool, dry place. Make sure that there's good air circulation so nothing gets moldy.
In my zone 3a garden I have to mulch lavender in order to winter it over. It's best not to cut it back until spring as the new leaves will grow on old wood. With good sun exposure you should be treated to lots of flowers next year. Your lavender looks very similar to the variety I have... Munstead. Have you tried some finely chopped in a salad? Yummy! Also great in white chocolate truffles. Best of luck with wintering over.
Donna
