Lavender

HI wildflower, thanks for the advice, I've now given it a good old soaking and it's looking a little better. I haven't cut it back yet as I only planted it last year and it's having a second flush of flowers (just a few) but I will give it a trim because it has almost doubled in size in just one year so will need to keep it in check as I haven't got a large garden.

 

Mona Lisa that is gorgeous, can almost smell it from here.

 

Hello M-L. Yes, it is the Papillon. I have it in a pot by the back door but mine bloomed in the Spring, unlike the English (in a pot in the outdoor dining area) which blooms for months on end through the winter.

 

While visiting my sister recently I harvested a carrier bag full of the common Lavender,I spread it on the table in the conservatory to dry and spent last evening rubbing of all the flowers I now have a considerable amount to put into little bags of muslin which I make about 6 X 4 inches nice to pop into your pillow and for added pungency few seconds in the microwave,and I note it is expensive in the shops and probably not very fresh.

 

rosietu..good tip they can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil..to give it added fragrance..i keep some in vases i just pick it and plonk it in a vase and it drys naturally..i still have to get out and pick some more..it looks nice with a few grasses added for a winter flower arrangement..and i buy some realistic looking poppys to add a bit of colour.."they get plonked in the vase also.".. :D

 

Wild Flower, Umm did wonder about the addition of oil I always have a selection of Culpeppers essential oils for various uses but wondered wether it might go off....as some do. I do think the French Lavender is very pretty but do not have much luck with it. :(

 

it shouldnt go off i presume its in a brown bottle ..with the top tightly screwed ..out of direct sunlight ?? if the answer is yes then its fine..

 

My english lavender's gone absolutely mental this year - I bought 2 small pots and just dead-headed them in spring, they're both about 3 foot round now and collect lots of bees! I have a french one and a lovely 'old fashioned' pink one too

 

I have about five different ones in my greenhouse at the moment too small to be planted out but I think maybe they will be better in pots on the patio next year?!

 

Hi, Jay, it's amazing how quickly English lavender will spread when planted in the ground! Like yours, mine went to about a four-foot spread and after cutting back a few times got straggly and woody.

Depending on your garden space, Stingo, this is a good reason to keep them in pots! You can still enjoy them without them invading everything else and place them exactly where you want to smell them!

 

Yes they can look a bit grim when they go woody can't they Lady OL? But they're just such a lovely, useful plant we can't help but let them run riot for a while :D

 

Definitely agree, Jay .. but I'm sticking to the pots now! The Margarita daisies do exactly the same thing here! :eek:

 

Hi all,
I have a Lavender 'Grosso' about 3ft wide. Last year looked fantastic but has sort of split down the middle :eek: I pruned it after flowering last year, and it's got loads of flowers just about to open, but looks a mess with this gaping hole in the foliage. Can I divide it down this natural split? Can I take cuttings from it if not? ( sorry lots of questions!)

 

windy...wait till the flowers have finished and then take cuttings..then cut it right back and it should recover..

 

Mine did exactly the same, Windy. Having done a hard cut on it, it never really recovered and looked bare so I gave up, dug it up, bought a new one and put it in a pot as mentioned above, and I'm happier with them like that!