zuzu's petals
Silly Old Bat
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Location: Coastal N.Carolina ~zone 8~ (Map)
Posts: 2568
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| Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:11 pm Post subject: Save The Lavender ~ |
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Okay you successful Lavender growers,  I need input and encouragement.
I've committed Lavender murder more times than I can count,
(I think the folks at my local herb nursery may have me on some sort
of a repeat offenders list  ) but I love it and so I keep trying.
Now, I don't want to put my shoulder out of joint as I pat myself on the back,
but I have finally managed to grow a Lavender plant that has survived my care
for a full year (well, almost a year, I'm sure I bought it last spring).
I've had it growing in a large pot, but now I'd like to add it to one of the beds.
It has remained green all winter, though it is more than a little straggly looking now.
So, my questions  ~
Is this the wrong time of year to transplant my Spanish Lavender plant?
And, if it is okay to do so now, should I prune it at the same time?
And, if I should cut it back, should I shear it back hard or just trim lightly?
Oh, and if you have any other helpful hints, please enlighten me,
seriously, nothing is too basic  . . .
PLEASE STOP ME BEFORE I KILL AGAIN!
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 ~*~ zuzu ~*~
I put a lot of myself into my garden.
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dooley
Official Garden Turtle
Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Location: Texas (Map)
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| Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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I think we may be related. I've killed more lavender than I'll admit too. I'm afraid I can't help you unless you'd like it to succumb to some mysterious ailment. Dooley
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Tina
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 07 Feb 2007
Location: Seattle,WA
Posts: 376
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| Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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Guys, I am so scared now. I did'nt know growing lavender is so hard. I just sowed some lavender seeds. Nothing sprouted yet in 2 weeks. If experienced gardeners like you failed at it then what shot do I have. I hate to admit it, but I have killed so many plants(usually store bought) before that I had given up gardening for 3 years.
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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Location: Scotland (Map)
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 12:08 am Post subject: |
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I've never had any joy with growing lavender from seed so I've always grown it either from a cutting or cheated and bought one from a garden centre.  I have 6 different types in the garden that have overwintered well here in Scotland. I cut off the flowers once they'd faded and trimmed the bushes back in early autumn.
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CritterPainter
Awed by Nature
Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1448
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 12:09 am Post subject: |
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yep, they like it hot and dry. They seem to like my rocky soil with minimal nutrients anyways.
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I have a mind like a steel...sieve
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zuzu's petals
Silly Old Bat
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Location: Coastal N.Carolina ~zone 8~ (Map)
Posts: 2568
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 12:50 am Post subject: |
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| Tina wrote: | | Guys, I am so scared now. I did'nt know growing lavender is so hard. I just sowed some lavender seeds. Nothing sprouted yet in 2 weeks. If experienced gardeners like you failed at it then what shot do I have. I hate to admit it, but I have killed so many plants(usually store bought) before that I had given up gardening for 3 years. |
Awww, Tina, don't be discouraged, we have all committed MANY plant homicides. 
I like to think of them as sacrifices to Mother Nature,
when she gets her fill, maybe she'll let me keep a few for a while. 
Be fearless,  grow loads of plants . . . she can't eat 'em all! 
| eileen wrote: | | . . . trimmed the bushes back in early autumn |
Ooooh, so I'm running just a tad behind, schedule-wise  swell!
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~*~ zuzu ~*~
I put a lot of myself into my garden.
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bethie
Highly Skillful
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
Location: WestTennessee (Map)
Posts: 1610
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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Yes indeed, lavender loves poor care-dry, hot and not too much fertilizer. Mine will be going good and then a lot of rain...I just can't talk about it.  But I will NEVER give up. Don't you just love that stuff? A friend of mine has better drainage and is not a very good gardener (sorry Friend) and hers does Great.
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Polly
Thumb Gardener
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2234
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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I had a beautiful lavender plant at our old house. Moved it when we moved and it hasn't done well since. Now I know why - the spot it is planted in is always wet. Must move it in the spring.
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Netty
Chaotic Gardener
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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I've been very lucky with Lavender I guess. Mine gets very little attention and even less water. I give it a trim late spring when I see exactly what parts have winter kill and then leave it alone.
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zuzu's petals
Silly Old Bat
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Location: Coastal N.Carolina ~zone 8~ (Map)
Posts: 2568
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone, those are great links Toni. 
So then, would you say that I can transplant it now if I choose a dry, sunny location,
and that I can cut it back at the same time?
Do you think I should prune hard or lightly?
I do see new growth points forming along the stems.
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~*~ zuzu ~*~
I put a lot of myself into my garden.
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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I transplanted a rather large one from pot to ground about two weeks ago and it is doing fine. I would have trimmed it already if February hadn't started attacking me. But that is one of the things I will be doing today.
I trim back in the spring after making sure there is some new growth coming up and trim back to about 6 inches above the ground (or just above the new growth).
Eileen, I had saved seeds from my first lavender but they have a very short shelf life so I don't know that it is really worth it, I buy new ones at the Garden Center.
I keep the flowers cut thru the blooming season, dry them and use them in soap and put some in muslin bags for sachets.
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