Rules for planting and caring for different types of lavender outdoors
Planting and caring for lavender outdoors is of interest to many gardeners. To get a beautiful and strong plant, it is necessary to carry out planting work correctly. After that, the culture needs timely watering, correct fertilizing and proper pruning. The control of diseases and insect pests is of great importance.
Description and characteristics
Lavender is a perennial shrub with fibrous roots. They can reach 2 meters deep. The plant is characterized by numerous stems, which reach a height of 0.6 meters. These plant fragments are lignified at the bottom.
Seated leaf plates have a linear shape. They are characterized by a silver tint. Soft fluff can be seen on the surface. The flowers of the plant have a pleasant aroma. They collect in inflorescences, resembling spikelets, in which 6-10 elements are present.Lavender comes in a variety of shades, but the most common colors are lilac or blue.
Lavender usually begins to bloom in July. Culture is an excellent bee plant. Subject to seed storage conditions, they are characterized by excellent germination even after many years.
Choose a landing site
First of all, it is recommended to choose the right place for planting the plant. The culture likes open beds well lit by the sun. Bushes can grow in shady areas. However, it will not be possible to achieve lush flowering.
The roots of the culture do not tolerate the high humidity of the earth. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid planting crops in swampy areas or in areas with high groundwater. If there are no other options, it is recommended to make a raised bed. To avoid excess moisture, it is worth providing good drainage.
The plant is considered quite demanding on the parameters of acidity and soil composition. If the soil is too acidic, a small amount of lime should be added before planting in the ground. You can also use wood ash. Such funds well reduce the acidity of the soil.
To give the soil sufficient friability, it is worth systematically using compost. This substance will make the floor more breathable and provide it with useful elements.
Breeding methods
There are several methods of propagating lavender, each with different characteristics. This allows growers to choose the optimal breeding method.
Layers
This is a fairly simple selection method that works well for lavender which does not produce much growth.To do this, the lower branches of the plant must be bent and placed in a furrow with a depth of 3 centimeters. This is recommended in the spring. Then fix the shoot with staples, sprinkle with soil and water.
Cuttings should be watered more often than the mother plant. It is important to prevent the soil from drying out. Thanks to this, it will be possible to grow lateral roots. The following year, the layers will turn into independent plants. At this point they are allowed to be moved to a permanent site.
Cuttings
This method is generally used when grow lavender at home... In the south, it is also used for planting in open ground. On a bush growing in a pot, it is worth choosing a one-year shoot. By the end of the year, it is already beginning to lignify. It is recommended to cut the branch and divide it into 10-centimeter fragments. Each shoot should be rooted in a separate container, filling it with peat.
Previously, it is permissible to dip it in Kornevin or to process the lower cut with dry powder.
After that, the plant should be watered. It is advisable to make a small greenhouse. Its role can be played by a plastic bottle or a glass jar. Rooting will take several months. This will be demonstrated by the appearance of leaves.
Sowing seeds
Planting lavender seeds is allowed in open ground. In such a situation, planting work should be carried out in October. With the method of growing seedlings, they are carried out at the end of May. The seed should be prepared in the fall or early winter. Stratification is carried out before planting in the ground. For this, the seeds should be stored at a temperature of +5 degrees. The procedure lasts 2 months.Usually, planting material is combined with sand and placed in a refrigerator. It is allowed to plant it for seedlings in February or March.
How to plant seedlings
First, you need to prepare the box and the ground for the seeds. To do this, it is worth combining humus with sand. In this case, it is worth adhering to a ratio of 2: 1. It is recommended to sift the mixture. Lavender has small seeds, so there should be no lumps in the soil. Further, the mixture must be warmed in the oven or poured with a saturated solution of potassium permanganate.
Prepared soil should be placed in a special container. It is imperative to make drainage holes in it. In February-March, the seeds should be sown directly on the surface of the earth and covered with 3 millimeters of sand. Sprinkle with water and cover. To do this, you can use glass or film. The box should be moved to a warm, bright place.
Crops should be ventilated from time to time. For this, the film or glass is removed. In order for the seeds to germinate, they must provide the correct temperature regime at the level of + 15-22 degrees. When germs appear, they need to organize a backlight. Every day it is worth removing the cover so that the seedlings adapt to the temperature regime of the room. After that, the film can be completely removed, and the seedlings can be planted. It is worth keeping a distance of at least 5 centimeters.
How to plant before winter
In regions with warm winters, it is recommended to plant the seeds directly in the ground. It is recommended to do this in October. First you need to prepare the soil on the site. When digging the earth, peat is introduced.With high soil moisture, it is recommended to add sand or gravel to it. This will increase the soil's permeability to moisture and air. If the autumn is dry, it is recommended to water the crops. However, do not overwet the soil. When snow appears on the site, you can throw a snowdrift.
Care
Soil treatment near the bush
Lavender requires loose soil. Its roots need a full flow of air. In addition, it is worth removing weeds near the plant. Therefore, it is worth taking care of lavender very carefully, systematically weeding and loosening it.
To facilitate the care of the plant, it is recommended to mulch the soil. To do this, it is worth spreading rotten foliage around the bush. Colored substrates that have decorative properties are also suitable. It should be remembered that near the trunk the ground should be left open. This will prevent rotting of the crop.
Watering and ridging
To ensure the full development of lavender, it must be watered systematically. In the heat, the number of waterings should be significantly increased. Each time after moistening the soil, it is recommended to loosen its surface. The rapid elimination of weeds is not insignificant.
It is recommended to tighten adult bushes. This is done in spring and autumn. This procedure will ensure the formation of new shoots on old branches.
Size
This stage of plant care can hardly be called obligatory. However, only pruning will help form beautiful, lush plants. This step should therefore not be neglected in the care of lavender. The first pruning is recommended immediately after flowering. At the same time, in the summer, the shoots are shortened only by 2 centimeters.At the end of the warm season, a more radical procedure will be required. However, it is also worth remembering the sense of proportion. If you shorten the branches too much to a lignified part, there is a risk of death of the bush.
Fertilization
In the spring, lavender needs nitrogen remedies. To do this, it is recommended to take 1 tablespoon of urea and twice as much sodium humate per 10 liters of water. 1 bush will require 5-6 liters of solution. When the lavender begins to bloom, Agricola-Fantasy can be used. For 10 liters it is worth taking 2 tablespoons of the product. 1 plant will require 3-4 liters of substance. To ensure a more lush flowering culture, it is recommended to use mineral fertilizers.
You can also use an organic solution. Rossa Universal is suitable for this. When preparing the composition, it is recommended to take 2 tablespoons of the product per 10 liters of water. This amount is sufficient for 1 plant. Another option for feeding the culture is a mixture based on 2 tablespoons of Nitrofoska and 500 milliliters of liquid mullein. It is recommended to mix the finished product with 10 liters of water. 1 plant will require 10 liters of composition.
To reduce the need for fertilizer, you can mulch the plants. To do this, cover the garden with a good layer of compost. The substance will decompose under the influence of the external environment. Thanks to this, the plant will be provided with useful elements throughout the season.
Prepare for winter
To preserve lavender bushes for the winter, cover them carefully. In the southern regions, this procedure can be neglected. Experts point out that lavender tolerates frosts well down to -25 degrees.If more severe frosts are expected in the area, the facility should be isolated. In addition, it is worth insuring in winter with little snow.
It is recommended to prune the bushes to prepare the lavender for winter. This should be done at the end of the season. It is worth placing branches on the garden bed. For this purpose, needles are well suited. In this case, the insulating layer of foliage in this case should not be used. This will cause the lavender to rot.
Transfer
The culture has difficulty tolerating transplants. Therefore, it is recommended to immediately plant it in a permanent place. When you move a bush, there is a risk of death.
Diseases and pests
Lavender is characterized by excellent resistance to diseases and pests, as it itself is considered an effective fungicide. However, there are pests and diseases that can disrupt plant development.
gray rot
Lavender often suffers from gray rot. To cope with the disease, it is necessary to cut off the affected bush fragments. They should be burned.
Rainbow beetles
Among the pests, lavender often encounters attacks of rainbow beetles. These insects damage the leaves of the plant. It is recommended to collect them manually.
cicadas
Upon contact with the plant, insects eat its leaves. It is recommended to collect them manually. With the constant appearance of pests, it is worth getting rid of plant residues and mulch under the bush.
Kinds
Today, many varieties of lavender are known, each of which has certain characteristics.
English
This plant is native to southern Europe. It is a perennial shrub characterized by small purple flowers and silvery foliage. Culture blooms in July-August. It is very frost resistant.The most common type of this lavender is the dolphin plant. It does not exceed 30 centimeters in height and has attractive silvery foliage. The Headcoat variety is very popular. It is used to decorate small hedges.
Common varieties of English lavender include:
- Headcoat Giant - has a compact size and reaches 60 centimeters;
- Alba - the plant grows 50 centimeters and has white inflorescences;
- Manstad - the bush grows up to 40 centimeters and is distinguished by rich blue flowers;
- Rosea - the culture reaches 40 centimeters and has a purple tint;
- Headcoat Blue - grows up to 40 centimeters and has purple flowers.
French
This lavender is also called dicotyledonous. It has an intense aroma and attractive flowers. They are pink, white, lilac. There are purple and burgundy tones. The culture begins to bloom in April-May and ends in July. In August, the plant can bloom again.
French culture can hardly be called frost-resistant. Therefore, it is recommended to grow it in warm regions. The most popular plant species is Lavandula stoechas pedunculata. Culture is characterized by original inflorescences.
From this category, the following varieties are the most popular:
- Rocky Road - is a new variety characterized by purple inflorescences;
- Yellow Vale - it is characterized by rich purple inflorescences and yellowish foliage;
- Tiara - has large blue flowers and cream bracts;
- Regal Splendor - has dark purple flowers;
- Helmsdale - is distinguished by a lilac color with a burgundy tint.
Hybrid
This lavender is also called Dutch lavender. This category includes very decorative hybrids. These are massive bushes. They are characterized by large flowers. The plant has narrow leaves. They have a beautiful silver color. Lavender blooms in July.
Famous varieties in this category are:
- Arabian Knight - has bright purple flowers;
- Alba - has a white color;
- Richard Gray is a small bush with purple flowers;
- Grosso - purple flowers are characteristic of lavender;
- Sawyers - has a pale lilac color.
Toothed
It is a special type of plant that has silver foliage. It is characterized by large flowers of different shades of purple. This culture is more suitable for indoor cultivation. It is not recommended to plant it in open ground.
narrow-leaved
This is an unpretentious plant that tolerates low temperatures well. The shrub begins to bloom in mid-summer. Narrow leaves are considered a characteristic feature of the culture. They are grayish in color. The bush is compact in size.
Harm and benefit
All lavender fragments contain essential oil, which contains beneficial substances. These include coumarins, tanning elements, borneol. Lavender oil brings great benefits to the body. It is actively used in folk medicine and cosmetic practice. The substance helps to cope with burns and bruises. Lavender is often used in the treatment of paralysis, pathologies of cerebral vessels, convulsive syndrome after a stroke.
The plant helps to cope with headaches, increased drowsiness and dizziness.
The tool has a diuretic effect and helps to eliminate toothache. Tea with the addition of lavender removes uncomfortable sensations in the stomach. Lavender has a calming effect. It is used for cystitis, hypertension, flu, respiratory pathologies, flatulence.The remedy helps to eliminate the symptoms of rheumatism, helps with helminthic invasion, skin rashes, amenorrhea and fever.
Experts note that lavender has a beneficial effect on the state of the human psyche and has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system. The plant effectively resists the influence of stress factors. It successfully reduces the negative effect of the external environment on a person's consciousness and psyche. In addition, cultivation contributes to the restoration of energy and strength. With its help, it is possible to improve the intellectual abilities of a person.
Lavender leaves are good for baths. They have a therapeutic effect. Dried inflorescences are placed in cabinets with clothes. It helps fight moths and makes things smell good. It is important to keep in mind that lavender also has certain limitations in its use. The product is not recommended for use during pregnancy. This is especially dangerous in the early stages of motherhood. The plant is able to cause contraction of the muscles of the uterus. It is not recommended to use lavender after an abortion. Otherwise, the risk of bleeding is high. You should not use the plant during the period of treatment with preparations containing iron and iodine.
Excessive amounts of a substance can cause depression or irritate the mucous membranes of the digestive organs.
Lavender products have a pronounced effect on the body. In case of individual intolerance to the substance, there is a risk of developing severe allergies. Therefore, before using the plant, you should consult your doctor.
Use in landscaping
Lavender is often used to decorate gardens.The flowers of the plant can have different shades - white, pink, lilac. This variety makes it possible to create harmonious compositions. There are several options for planting lavender bushes.
Along the paths
The most well-known and popular method of planting is considered to be the placement of lavender along garden paths and paths. This allows you to visually divide the site into zones.
chessboard
An interesting solution would be to place the bushes in an order imitating the arrangement of cells on a chessboard. It should be borne in mind that this method is applicable only to horizontal surfaces.
Carpet
To make the summer cottage more original, you can form a kind of carpet from the bushes. In this case, it is worth choosing the right height of lavender and cutting it at the same level.
Combinations with other plants
Lavender has an intense floral scent. Therefore, when choosing additions, you must ensure that the smells do not mix. Otherwise, it will be simply impossible to be near such beds. Lavender goes well with contrasting flowers. Sage and catnip are good additions. The plant is in good harmony with the garden hydrangea or the lyatrix. It is allowed to combine it with yarrow. Bushes can be safely planted next to grasses.
Lavender is a famous plant that many gardeners grow in their summer cottages. It has excellent decorative properties and helps to create stunning compositions on the site. To achieve excellent results in growing a crop, it is important to provide it with good care.