Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Is anybody here good with lavender?

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Home & Family » Gardening Group Donate to DU
 
badgerpup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-29-08 06:22 PM
Original message
Is anybody here good with lavender?
I like lavender, and am trying to grow a lavender 'hedge'. Planted it last year...dug out a trench, filled it with good topsoil and planted 12 lavender plants in it; six "Munstead" (English lavender) and six "Lavendin intermedia grosso" (French- what most of the oil and fragrances is made from).

All of the Munstead came out of dormancy, but the Lavendin just sat there, all dry...called the company where I'd bought it, and after some back and forthing (about three weeks, during which 2 of the plants showed some life...finally) they replaced the four which died.
So I go out to plant...and one MORE lavendin has decided to join the living.
Meanwhile all the Munsteads are going nuts...:bounce:

Is there anything special I should be doing for the French lavender?
Does this stuff just come out of dormancy late and slowly?
The letters below show how they're planted, so they're all getting the same amount of sun, water, and nutrients...
______________
*M**L**M**L**M**L
M**L**M**L**M**L
____________


* used to indicate spacing cos HTML won't listen to me...:dunce:

Roots and Rhizomes http://www.rootsrhizomes.com
They're a decent company; good products and customer service.
Refresh | 0 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
crispini Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-30-08 06:26 AM
Response to Original message
1. Lavender likes hot and dry.
That's mostly what I know. :)

Good article here:
http://gardening.about.com/od/perennials/a/Lavender.htm
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
uppityperson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-31-08 01:56 AM
Response to Original message
2. I have grown a bunch of different types, find the ones with fat ends need more water, die easier.
My munsteads and grossos grow great with little water, but the (spanish?) ones with larger heads die more easily. Plant them in sandy soil, make sure it's not too wet. I had a couple die off because they didn't drain fast enough.

Sounds like a good company.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
japple Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-31-08 08:26 AM
Response to Original message
3. My plants are 3 to 5 years old, and I've only lost a couple over
the winter. The English lavendar and Munsteads are doing best. I think it was Spanish or French varieties that didn't make it. They do best in Mediterranean climates, which is similar to what we have here in Georgia (though it's much more humid here). Last year, during the drought, I put a soaker hose in my flower bed and they were okay, but didn't grow much. This year, though, with a normal amount of rain, they've gone into overdrive and are mounding up beautifully. I will probably have to prune them back this fall. Once established, they are mostly low maintenance and give a lot of rewards for little effort. The fragrance is like no other, and the bees, hummingbirds love the flowers.

Good luck, and don't fuss over them too much.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Blue Gardener Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jun-01-08 02:53 PM
Response to Original message
4. In my experience
Lavender is very particular. Munstead is the only one that I've been able to grow in my garden.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
bluethruandthru Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jun-01-08 06:45 PM
Response to Original message
5. I think Montana is a little too cold for French lavender.
English lavender will withstand the cold more than french. I would check the hardiness zone for the plants you have.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
badgerpup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jun-02-08 04:39 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. Both the Munstead and the Lavendin say Zone 5...
We're in zone 4, but the area they're in is pretty sheltered, and I do mulch over the winter.

I've noticed that the Munstead is a LOT more forgiving about being in a cooler zone as well.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sun Dec 22nd 2024, 07:07 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Home & Family » Gardening Group Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC