For formal landscapes, try arranging lavender in planting bands or blocks with groups of six, eight, 10 or more plants in a single area. In more naturalistic-style gardens, bank lavender in swaths, laying out the plants to twist and turn through the garden like a lavender river bed.
Where do I put lavender in my garden?
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.
What plants look nice with lavender?
The Best Companion Plants for Lavender
- Echinacea. Echinacea and lavender make a great pairing, and not just because they look stunning next to each other.
- Roses. Lavender and roses are a classic, pretty pairing.
- Yarrow.
- Sedum.
- Alliums.
- African Daisy.
- Zinnia.
- Gaillardia.
What is the best position for lavender?
How to prepare a Lavender bed
- Like nearly all plants with tough, narrow leaves and small flowers, it loves a hot, open, sunny position, facing south or west.
- It will tolerate a little shade but needs full sun for most of the day.
- It can tolerate severe cold by British standards, but it hates wet areas.
What should not be planted next to lavender?
What should you not plant near lavender?
- Mint – Mint requires greater moisture in the soil than lavender can tolerate.
- Shade-Loving Perennials and Annuals – Plants and flowers that prefer the shade, like Coleus, Hosta, Impatiens, Fuchsia, and Camellias, likely won’t be your best choice of a buddy plant for lavender.
What happens if you don’t prune lavender?
If you don’t prune lavender, the plant will quickly become leggy and woody, and won’t be able to hold its own weight very well. This means the stems will flop over when heavy with flowers, causing the plant to spread out and exposing more of the old wood in the plant.
Should you deadhead lavender?
Is Deadheading Absolutely Necessary? While deadheading can encourage new blooms and tidy up your plants, it’s not absolutely necessary. Lavenders cope just fine with their old blooms still attached, and they normally fall off after a couple of months anyway.
How do you arrange lavender?
An easy way to create a dried lavender bouquet is to arrange stems, after cutting, in a vase without water. Flowers and stems will dry upright in the vase. Once lavender dries, gather stems to form dried lavender bunches for wreaths or decorating.
What is the best time of year to plant lavender?
spring
Plant lavender in spring, once all chances of frost have passed. This beautiful, fragrant herb is a great addition to raised beds, in-ground gardens, and growing in containers. Space lavender plants 12 to 18 inches apart in an area with plenty of sunlight and sandy, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.7 to 7.3.
Does lavender keep bugs away?
Lavender.
They love the flowers, but other bugs stay away. Lavender has a pleasant scent that comes from the essential oils in the leaves of the plant, but the bugs hate it. Hang some dried lavender in your closet and you won’t have to worry about moths eating your clothes.
Does lavender spread on its own?
Lavenders do not spread by division, self propagation or any other method apart from seeds dispersed from pods developed in their spent flower heads in late summer. (Although they are easily propagated with cuttings by gardeners).
How far should lavender be planted apart?
Plant lavender 2 to 3 feet apart. Plants typically reach between 1 and 3 feet in height. Add mulch (rock or pea gravel work particularly well) to keep weeds to a minimum. Keep the mulch away from the crown of the lavender plant, however, to prevent excess moisture and root rot.
How often should lavender be watered?
Lavenders typically need to be watered once every two weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). Outdoor lavenders will not need watering in Fall or Winter as they are in a dormant state and will attain enough water easily from the weather.
Does lavender spread quickly?
Lavender, if you didn’t know, is a fast grower and is going to spread very quickly. You need to understand that this plant tends to grow very quickly as long as you provide it with appropriate amounts of care and nutrients.
Does lavender come back every year?
Lavender is a Low-Maintenance Perennial
And this beauty will come back to your garden every year, for about 3-5 years, so it’s a great investment. What is this? Before you make any plant purchases, however, I want to remind you to always choose plants that thrive in your plant hardiness zone.
How big does lavender get?
Lavender is best started with small plants planted in the spring with a spacing of one to three feet apart. This plant typically grows to two to three feet tall, with narrow, gray-green leaves (a little over two inches long) on square stems. In warmer climates, the leaves might be evergreen.
Can I prune lavender in March?
March through May, early spring is the best time to prune. Remove any dead branches all the way down to the hedge bottom. (see image) Following a harsh winter season as seen during the winter of 2013-14 (see 2014 Winter Blog) you may want to prune the entire lavender bush down to the bare woody hedge.
What month does lavender bloom?
Lavender Blooming Guides
Flowering typically occurs as early as May (in areas with mild summers and winters) with another flush of blooms in June followed by another flush of color in late summer or fall.
Should lavender be cut back before winter?
Unpruned lavenders tend to become woody and have decreased blooms. However, lavender should not be pruned during the winter. Unlike many perennial plants and shrubs that can be pruned now, it is best to wait to prune lavender until after bloom in spring or in early fall before any danger of frost.
How do you make lavender bushy?
To increase the amount lavender blooms, plant lavender in full sun, with sandy soil and prune in the Spring to stimulate more growth to support more blooms. Watering lavender too frequently and adding fertilizer can stress the plant which causes fewer blooms.
When should lavender be cut back?
“Ideally, you should prune your lavender twice in a growing season — once in early spring and once in late summer, after it’s done blooming,” she says. In early spring, Fedele suggests waiting until you see new growth before you prune. Then in late summer, after the plants have stopped blooming, prune again.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.