Lavender prefers full sunlight – so plant where it will receive light for the majority of the day. If you’re planting in the garden choose an area with full sun and good drainage. Our new trial garden was laid out with three of each kind of Lavender planted in a triangle, with each plant situated about two feet apart. Grow one of its many cultivars such as ‘Fairy Wings’ at the foot of standard roses as a decorative fringe. Take 7.5-10 cm heel cuttings from semi-woody non-flowering lavender shoots in autumn. If you are going to prune your lavender, the best time to do it (in frost prone areas) is summer - late January/early February to allow the new growth to harden off before winter. ... help you decide what to prune off to give your plant the desired shape and gives insight as to the direction of the new growth. Plants typically reach between 1 and 3 feet in height. Here’s what you need to know. We continue to follow government advice and thank our amazing team for all their hard work helping our customers. Or dig in some sand and grit. You can enjoy longer season of lavender blooming if you choose the right lavenders to plant. When pruning it's important to retain the green foliage and don't cut back into the old wood. Lavender Blooming Season Guides Next, sprinkle composted manure or bone meal fertilizer in the hole and mix it with the soil. Find all the gardening tips and advice you need to grow lavender. Cutting a shallow notch in that branch. Prepare your soil with organic matter like compost and sheep pellets. Plant lavender at the same depth it was in its pot. Most lavender used in the home garden belongs to one of two groups: the stoechas species known as Mediterranean lavenders or the angustifolia species, known as English or Spica lavenders. Lavender plants are the perfect addition to the lazy gardener's yard. There are a few lavenders that belong to neither group such as pinnata, pedunculata and dentata or French lavender. Remove the spent lower spikes and trim to shape. For a fragrant hedge with a profusion of flowers in summer, plant different lavender species to give shades of purple, mauve, pink and white. After two or three weeks, the plant can be transplanted outdoors or into a larger pot with standard potting soil. Cut off the full length of the flower stalks, tie them together in small bunches and hang them upside-down in a cool, airy place to dry. Certain foods can become downright toxic when blasted in the microwave. The Spittle Bug can be hosed off with a strong stream from a hose or even removed by hand. In areas which have wet or humid summers look for tolerant species and varieties including Allard’s lavender, Lavandula x allardii, and forms such as ‘Sidonie’ which are cultivars of L. canariensis. Sand can be added to improve drainage or planting on a mound will help. Some strains are propagated only from rooted cuttings. With the ‘Mediterranean’ look being so popular they will no doubt remain a favourite for some time to come. Growing lavender is extremely rewarding - not only does it have an intoxicating scent, but the delicate flowers look simply divine and are perfect for attracting bees to your garden.Full sunlight and well-draining soil are two of the most crucial things you’ll need to achieve in order to grow lavender successfully, whether you’re planting it in the garden, in a pot or even indoors. It blooms from summer to autumn, and makes an attractive foil for richly coloured plants.The deep purple ‘Hidcote’ variety of English lavender is more compact than the species and reaches a height of up to 60 cm. The silver-grey foliage exudes as much scent on sunny midwinter days as the flowers do from midsummer to autumn. Start seeds indoors and set out at about the time of your last frost. Lavender French - Dentata from Awapuni Nurseries , French lavender is ideal for hedging but can also be grown in pots. Lavender often does well in heavy soil for a while, but winter waterlogging may well shorten its life. Lavender is one of the most widely cultivated plants. There are more than 450 Lavender varieties and finding the best lavender plant for your garden might not be a easy job. Lavender loves full sun, and lots of it – at least six hours a day for optimal flowering. The word "Shrub" describes small to medium sized woody bushes. When planted in acidic soils, lavenders appreciate the addition of lime to the soil. Plants are best watered in the morning or early evening, not during the searing heat of the day. Autumn is the time of the year to take care of your lavenders. Browse through the online collections of red lavender New Zealand. 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