We bought a house ant it has 20 woody large plants. I was going to prune then back to hopefully get new flowers on the wood and cut them back father to smaller plants because they have gotten so tall. Or should I start over with new plants? They lined our backyard fence to keep out mosquitos. If I should scrap these what type are low growing and produce lots of blooms? We live in zone 9. Thank you for your help with this. I think about this everyday.
Addendum: fertilizing lavender before spring bloom will result in excessive leaf growth and fewer flowers. A light fertilization after the first flush of bloom is fine or simply surround plants with compost as a top-dressing.
Early spring when new growth is starting to show is a good time for severe pruning. Be mindful to leave a few leaf buds on each stem; cutting back into leafless wood will not result in new leaves or flowers, just a dead stem. Lavender produces the most flowers in full sun and must have quick-draining soil. It is adapted to semi-desert conditions and too much moisture causes root rot. I have found it easy to grow from seed but others do not; if you are not experienced in growing from seed, buying new plants is an option. If you google "compact lavender varieties" you'll see that there are quite a few to choose from.
I was given lavender seeds and wanted to grow in pot inside if possible
Lavender is a Mediterranean plant that loves hot weather and sandy soil. I think you will find that it doesn't thrive indoors but you can try. First, it takes 2-3 weeks at 75F for seeds to germinate so be patient. If your home is cooler, germination will take longer. To regular potting mix add coarse sand or pebbles or additional perlite. The roots will rot in normal potting soil. Let the soil dry between waterings and provide supplemental light to stimulate bloom and growth. Fertilize at no more than half the rate recommended before it blooms and maybe 1/4 between end of blooming and winter dormancy. Do not fertilize over winter and decrease the amount of water it receives unless your house is very dry in winter.
Would it look odd to use alternate lavender hidcote and munstead? I don't have enough to do the border all in one type
That would be lovely!
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/lavender/growing-lavender-hidcote-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/gardening-by-zone/zone-4/lavender-in-zone-4-gardens.htm
Last Summer I planted several lavender plants they grew very nicely. ( zone six central Kansas) in the fallI trimmed them back to half their growth. This year they haven't started turning green yet. It is April 5. Is it too soon?
Lavender is native to the Mediterranean which tells you what type of climate it likes. I'm in 6 and my lavender is showing no signs yet of breaking dormancy.
Hang in there!
About three years ago we planted 6 lavender plants. Three really tokk but never got bigger then a foot. They turn purple every year but dont grow. This year we were going to put a weed barrier around them... is this a good idea? They have a sunny part of the yard but are about 2 ft away from ornamental grass that take over and look beautiful. We really want them to grow this year. Any tips? Will the barrier effect them? Are yard slopes down a bit so it does allow for some drainage like I was told when planting! Please help! Thank you.
What USDA zone are you located in, and can you include photos? What is the soil like? Is it heavy clay? Sometimes this will have to be amended to keep it from getting compacted.
The dirt is rich soil. Very loose with lots of worms. Natural.. no clay. We live on ling island zones 7a & 7b. I will include photos soon.
Can I grow lavender and ivy leaf pelargoniums in the same container
The optimal growing conditions for the 2 plants are not the same. The geranium likes shade in the afternoon if temps are over 80 F. whereas lavender likes hot and dry conditions in full sun. Lavender needs fast-draining soil that is allowed to dry out between waterings and the geranium likes consistent moisture. In other words, I don't think this is a good pairing.
I bought a Lavender plant and a home and garden store. it was in a small 6 inch pot. Can I keep that indoors or should I plant outside?
This will depend on your USDA zone, and if the plant is hardy where you are. It will not live in that container for much longer, though. It should be replanted into a larger one, at the very least. If you can provide your zone, then I will be able to let you know if it will survive in your area.
In the meantime, this article will give you more information on the care of these: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/lavender/lavender-in-the-garden-information-and-growing-lavender-tips.htm