Re: Lavender
Hi Tim and all:
I too grow a lavender hedge here in Upland (east of LA) It is made up of
Lavandula x intermedia and L. latifolia. I cut them back hard every year in
June or July since I saw them doing just this in Southern France. They do it
to harvest the lavender, but it also renews the plant. I was told they can
count on seven good years harvest from every plant by this annual cut back.
However, you must start in the plant's first year and not wait until it gets
out of hand. My hedge plants are 4 years old now and will probably need to be
replaced in another year or two as they are edging a mixed border which gets
some irrigation.
My other lavenders; L. dentata, L. dentata 'Candicans', L. multifida, L.
heterophylla, L.x intermedia cultivars and L. Goodwin Creek Grey' are all now
6 years old and doing well on this regimen. But they reside in the "dry
garden" where they get very little water in the summer.
All this leads me to believe that lavender gets "out of hand" sooner, splits
open and flops when it is grown with summer irrigation and when it is only
pruned judiciously. I recommend you cut these lavenders hard; by half or two
thirds. Do it as soon as the main bloom period is over.
Having said all this, I want you to know I have a L. viridis (related to L.
stoechas) which has only been pruned up to reveal its trunk which is now (6
years) old and knarley. It is very handsome in its old age. So it's really
up to you and what effect you'd like to get from your lavenders. They are
wonderful plants.
Regards, Jan
Tim Toohey wrote:
> I have read somewhere (sorry--I don't remember where!) that it is best to
> replace Lavenders every three or four years. Two years ago I planted a
> lavender "hedge" with Lavandula dentata, L. stoechas, and L. x intermedia
> 'Grosso' (perhaps "Provence). The hedge now is in full bloom, but is
> beginning to get a little out of hand. It is beloved by bees and numerous
> hummingbirds here in Los Angeles.
>
> Do others have experience on whether it is better to replace the plants or
> to do some judicious pruning of new growth?
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Jan Smithen, gardening teacher
Los Angeles County Arboretum
jansmithen@earthlink.net
Sunset zone : 19
USDA zone : 10
http://home.earthlink.net/~jansmithen/
Visit the Victorian Rose Garden website at :
http://victorian-rose.org/
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