subject: Garden Lavender [print this page] Garden Lavender Garden Lavender
Hailed as a muscle relaxant, antidepressant, insect repellent, anti fungal and antiseptic, it's no wonder that lavender has won a firm place in our hearts, not to mention in our gardens.
Lavender is not a native plant of these shores, but it has been grown here for centuries in its different forms and has become associated with many English and British traditions and cultures. It is more than likely that it was first brought to Britain by the Romans, who revered it for its perfume properties and used it widely in their bathing and cleansing rituals. Most historians believe that the name lavender derives from the Latin verb Lavare to wash, although there is at least one school of thought that refers to a more medicinal route to its name.
In Tudor times Lavender saw somewhat of a revival particularly in medicinal use, when it became apparent that it really did posses powers to alleviate stress and soothe aching joints. And somewhere between the two it became the essential component in fragrant nosegays and strewing herbs, which were used to ward off foul smells, plague and insects, all of which were the bane of the people living in these times.
Garden Lavender
Lavender is a perennial and many of its forms are hardy which means that given the right conditions not only will it survive the British winter but it will also grow bigger and stronger with every year that passes. This makes it an ideal plant for our gardens, and given that it responds favourably to light clipping, it can make an attractive border edging, low hedge and looks great in a mixed border. Bees simply love it and smother the flowers and plants with the buzz of summer.
Lavender is easy to grow and needs a well drained soil, preferably slightly alkaline and definitely in a sunny spot. Try to mimic its native Mediterranean habitat for the best results. It tolerates wind and stony ground. Feed with a high potash fertiliser to encourage plenty of flowers. To keep the plants flowering well and in an attractive shape they need to be pruned every year. Cut them back after flowering, or if you are harvesting the flowers do the trimming at the same time. Don't cut back into the woody stems, as they don't rejuvenate well. If your plants are woody and shapeless then take cuttings now and replace the existing plant with a new crop of them next spring. Lavender can also be grown from seed. French lavender should be protected over the winter, cover with a tent of bracken leaves or a mound of straw. Tender lavender species should be over-wintered in a frost-free place. For instant effect buy pot grown plants now. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the pot. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole and add a gritty potting compost such as John Innes No 3. Remove the plant from the pot and place in the hole, filling in around the root ball with more compost. Firm in gently and water well. For a Mediterranean look consider mulching around the plant with slate or gravel. Alternatively grow in a large terracotta pot.
