Lavender

Question 1

growing conditions

Answer 1

Lavender is best planted between April and May as the soil is warming up. It thrives in any poor or moderately fertile, free-draining soils in full sun, and is ideal for chalky or alkaline soils.

On heavier soils, like clay and clay loam, lavender tends to be fairly short-lived, becoming woody at the base. To prolong the life of your lavender on heavier soil, add organic matter and gravel to improve the drainage and plant on a mound. If growing as a hedge, plant on a ridge to keep the base of the plants out of wet soil

Question 2

varieties

Answer 2

Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender) is the hardiest  
Lavandula stoechas (French lavender) and L. pedunculata subsp. pedunculata cultivars and hybrid lavender may suffer in severe winters , (half hardy). They are easily recognised by the colourful bracts or ear-like tufts topping the flowerheads. They have a long summer flowering period are ideal for container cultivation

Question 3

Problems

Answer 3

Lavenders can suffer root rots in wet or heavy soils, and may be troubled by insect pests affecting several Mediterranean herb plants including rosemary beetle and sage and Ligurian leafhopper.
Water logged roots and short life

Question 4

Pruning English Lavender Angustifolia

Answer 4

Pruning English lavender
You prune English lavender by cutting it back by two thirds in the second half of August and you can cut into the bare wood, if needed. New shoots will quickly appear at the base of the bush and these will have enough time to grow and harden up before winter comes.
This pruning regime will keep an English lavender plant compact for many years and a well-pruned plant can last for twenty years or more without becoming woody.
You can give English lavender another tidy in April to delay flowering time. This is particularly useful close to roses, because the main flush of lavender follows the June flush of roses.

Question 5

About and Pruning Lavandula x INTERMEDIA (clue )

Answer 5

The handsome, later flowering lavendins (Lavandula x intermedia) make fine individual specimens for the edge or corner of a border. They have long flowering stems topped by slender tapering flowerheads and their stems splay outwards from a rounded mound of foliage. Every time the wind catches them they move and billow.

However, lavendins are less hardy and, therefore, you never cut back hard into the bare wood. Shape them with shears in late August, aiming for a rounded mound of foliage. Their winter silhouettes can make a huge contribution to the garden.

Question 6

About and pruning of tufted Spanish or French lavender

Answer 6

The ‘tufted lavenders’ have a flag-like petals at the top of each thick flower spike and they are often labelled Spanish or French lavenders. They flower much earlier, often in May, but are much less hardy than most garden lavenders. Give them a very gentle trim after the first flush of flowers has faded, often in late June, but don’t ever cut them back hard. It will kill them.

Question 7

English lavenders suitable for hedges and edges

Answer 7

English lavenders suitable for hedges and edges.

1. Munstead’ - pale mauve-purple flowers (55 cm/22 in)
2. ‘Hidcote’ - neat, dark purple flowers (50 cm/20 in)
3. ‘Imperial Gem’ - thicker purple flowers and silver foliage (60 cm/24 in

Question 8

Lavendins ( Lavandula x intermedia) ideal for billowing single specimens

Answer 8

Lavendins ( Lavandula x intermedia) ideal for billowing single specimens

1. ‘Seal’ -a taller lavendin with purple flowers (100 cm/39 in)
2. ‘Grosso’ - blue-purple floppy lavender (75 cm/30 in)
3. ‘Arabian Night’ - pointed dark-purple flower spikes (100 cm/39 in)

Question 9

Tufted French and Spanish lavenders

Answer 9

Tufted French and Spanish lavenders

1. ‘Willow Vale’ - deep purple flower heads topped by three pale-lavender flags (60 cm/24 in)
2. Lavandula stoechas x viridis ‘Regal Splendour’ - compact tufted lavender with deep-purple flower head and top petal (40 cm/24 in)

Lavandula pedunculata subsp. pedunculata

Sometimes sold as ‘Papillon’ this lavender has really long purple ears which stand erect (65 cm/26 in)

Question 10

Did you know…?

Answer 10

• Lavenders are Mediterranean plants and they need hot, dry positions to do well. They resist drought.
• They were originally introduced into Britain by the Romans and used for their antiseptic properties.
• Laver is Latin for wash and the flowers were strewn into water, between linen and on floors.
• Their flowers, which are adored by bees, contain highly concentrated nectar. Find out more about attracting.
• Pick the flowers of English lavender in early June if you want to dry them.