I really like the Lavender plant.
There are several uses of the different parts of the plant: tea, oils, potpourri, food, decorations in the house bla bla bla. I just like it because I dig the color purple and it’s an easy solution to the edge of the house. Plus it makes me look like a gardening rock star.
Lavender is easy to take care of and thrives in the soil around my house.
One of the first activities I have in the yard is the cut the tops of the plants from last year. The thin stems which supported the deep purple flowers last year are now dried to a crispy twig.
The activity is easy and gives me a chance to do all the things I like about gardening: get close to the grass/dirt, get physical by using a manual tool and – maybe best of all – immediately see the accomplishment of my actions. Heck, there is even a slight lavender smell when I clip the small, green branches.
I give a good, aggressive snip with the old-timer sheers and watch them fall like canon fodder.
The good thing about the sheers is that you can turn them around/up-side-down and attack the backside of the plant up against the house.
I try not to cut too much of the plant itself. I’m told that you should never cut below the last leaf on any of the small branches if you want it to grow back.
I usually just let the freshly clipped twigs fall where they want due to birds using them as nesting. I like to think there are female birds settling down with a nest full of lavender twigs while the male birds constantly have to hear how nice it is to have a ready supply.
Once I’m done, they form a nice dome shape.
With proper watering and sunshine, they usually are a pale green/grey by end of April (we’re in Denmark so no guarantee we’ll get much sunshine). They tend to bloom here in mid-August and last until winter.
But I haven’t always been successful with them.
Lavender like a well-drained area, but don’t assume, like me, that that means they like it dry.
These plants need water, maybe not as much, but they need regular watering. Don’t let them stand dry for too many days.
What saved me is a drip hose.
I installed one of these a few years back and haven’t looked back. I snake the hose in-and-out between the plants. Then, I hook it up to the main hose and let it drip for 2-3 hours in the late afternoon.
Anyway, good luck with yours and lemme know how they go.
© 2018, Jim Morris. All rights reserved.
From Tampa, Florida; Moved to Denmark in ’92. I’m a serial almost entrepreneur (I have a lot of ideas but tend not to act on them) and work freelance as an IT consultant. I take care of the backend but will write occasionally when Morten lets me. Go BUCS!
