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Garden Gate:  Need Help with Lavender Plant  |
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JessieMae
True Blue Farmgirl
702 Posts
Jessie
Raleigh
North Carolina
USA
702 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 04 2008 : 3:32:15 PM
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I inherited this lavender plant when I bought my house 3 years ago. I haven't done much other than water it, and it has started to look pretty shabby. It's hard to see in the photo, but the left side of the plant looks dry and reedy; I don't know if that side is dead or not. The right side has green needle-y type leaves.
Anybody know anything about lavender...like should I prune it, thin it out, etc.? I'd like to eventually have a plant healthy enough to pick and dry the buds.
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Edited by - JessieMae on Oct 04 2008 3:32:37 PM |
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Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2008 : 4:28:31 PM
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Cut it way back for the winter and see if that helps. i cut mine to get the lavender every year just after it starts to bud and it grows right back for the next year. Beverley
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2008 : 5:52:24 PM
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I can't tell for sure but are you sure there isnt something else growing up through you lavender? It looks awfully woody and none of my lavender plants look that woody(I have10). You may want to cut it back especially on the blossom shoots. Also since you live in such a cold climate you may want to place hay around the roots in the winter.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2008 : 5:54:25 PM
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oh yeah lavender likes dry sandy soil. It is very possible you have over watered it. Once the plant gets established they don't need much water unless there is an extreme drought. Also never water the leaves of the lavender. Only water at the base near the roots.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
Felt and Fabric Crafts
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22937 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22937 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2008 : 9:55:01 PM
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I agree, cut it back down to about 4-5 inches from the soil. Make sure to compost the soil if it is really clayey. Get some drainage going and make sure it is in the hottest part of the yard. Mine always thrived on FULL sun.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Oct 05 2008 : 03:18:27 AM
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Our rosemary has looked like this in the past. We cut the dead way back in the fall.
I also have 1 lavender plant in a tall wooden box. I never water it, and just rely on the rain. The box drains really well. This year we had a ton of blossoms. If you want the blossoms for decoration and smell, literature says its best to cut flowered out stems in the moring and before buds have opened.
We had a few plants in the ground that never did well. Again, too much moisture.
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Oct 05 2008 : 03:56:11 AM
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What I always do:
Cut the plant till there is a little bit of grey leave-thingy left.
That way they grow not as much of the brown stuff. I have also heard you need new plants ever 3 years or so, because they grow bushy and get less flowers. I sometimes do that, and it helps.
LOVE Lavender, and the smell is gorgeous!
OFF TOPIC: I MIGHT , just might have found myself a job here, on a Lavender farm, yay!
They don't grow much lavender but they make their own soap and other bath stuff from Lavender from the Provence.
Also it is a B&B, a tea-room and they also have a giftshop and soap maker.
FINGERS crossed for this is just MY kinda job, YAY!
I SO hope this is it for me, have been looking for a long time.,
Will keep y'all updated :)
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
http://princess-of-pink-creations.blogspot.com/
my new BLOG.
I have added "new" creations, take a look :)
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LisaLu
True Blue Farmgirl
126 Posts
Lisa
Wildomar
Ca
USA
126 Posts |
Posted - Oct 05 2008 : 09:47:40 AM
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Dutchy:
I'll keep you in my prayers, good luck with the job interview. Make the best of whatever results. Be sure to let us know!
I loved your take on aprons. I never understood why y'all were so into aprons. Now I get it! I can't wait to dust off my sewing machine and design a few for myself & my girlfriends. I have 4 that I use for big projects that include paint or bleach....but I need a custom one for my gardening. I think this may be my Christmas gift project! Aprons for everyone!!!!!!
Happiness is homemade... |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4737 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4737 Posts |
Posted - Oct 05 2008 : 5:05:07 PM
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Dutchy, Best of luck on getting the new job! It sounds wonderful to me. I sure hope you get it.
I've never had luck with lavender plants coming back for me, so I gave up and planted Russian Sage instead. So far, so good with that these past 3 years!
Dawn in IL |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Oct 06 2008 : 08:17:44 AM
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I take a pair of hand shear/hedge shears and prune mine back after I harvest my lavender. I shape the plants into rounded shapes still leaving some green. They look rather "formal" after this, mine are hedging together and look almost like you would see in a formal English garden. Pretty.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/ |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2008 : 07:38:37 AM
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I moved into a house that had a thriving plant. It was old too and produced lots of flower heads. I kept it cleaned, cutting away the dead and very little water as others said.
Best Growing |
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Garden Gate: Need Help with Lavender Plant |
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Need Help with Lavender Plant
