Bringing the lavender back from the dead
By sussexsarah
8 comments
I have been feeling rather guilty about the amount of money that disappeared into my garden over the weekend, but at the same time I am deeply envious of Monty Don’s beautiful edging to his vegetable patch. My own new vegetable patch is formless and rather bare – though edged neatly in Celandine where I can’t get the roots out from under the path. Box would create too much shade – what I really want is Lavender.
And this is what I have…
Turning to the books they tell me that cuttings succumb to Botrytis. I don’t know what that is, but I’m betting it’s the plant equivalent of the plague. So no cuttings then. Seedlings I am also informed are of variable quality. Hmm what to do?
The answer appears to be to form a Saxon burial mound where, mixing my metaphors horribly, the Lavender will rise again like a phoenix.
The burial mound that could encorporate this monster would also bury a large dog, so I am going to start with a decent size hole, and a bit of grit in the bottom.
I doubt that this much grit has any impact at all on this much clay. Think of it as fairy dust. It makes me feel better.
Okay dig out the Lavender now – hmm the roots look better than expected. A good sign I hope.
I am now meant to cover it all in sandy soil – which I don’t have – leaf mould and grit will have to do.
Crikey its worse than covering my dad at the beach – I swear the Lavender keeps wriggling. Perhaps by woody they meant a foot tall rather than two feet. Anyway I got there in the end.
What do you think?
I packed some clay round about to stop it all dissolving but I’m still unsure. Perhaps I should have checked the quality of the Lavender first before I went to all this faff, LOL!
15 Mar, 2011
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Comments
I've "buried" lavenders and other perennials before, and the method seems to work well...
Good luck with yours ... :o)
15 Mar, 2011
Good luck...I've just bought a dozen lavenders (Lavandula angustifolia grosso) for a sunny dry bank. Here's hoping we both get success!
15 Mar, 2011
I`ve also done it with Hebes when they have gone leggy, works well with them and I`ve gained extra ........
15 Mar, 2011
Hope it works for you ,Sarah,I have never heard of this method,but it seems ,like all gardening..always something new to learn..I have taken Lavender cuttings,and never had a problem with Botrytis..so if all else fails,you can at least try some..good luck..:o)
15 Mar, 2011
I'm really pleased to hear that others have done it successfully. Thanks for the encouragement. Did you use an anti-rotting agent Bloomer or just hope for the best (my normal method).
15 Mar, 2011
To be honest,Sarah,I can't remember..I probably did,as I use it for most things,except Pelargoniums...Probably just me,not trusting to luck :o)
15 Mar, 2011
So.....how's your heather coming along, Sarah? I was certain I had favourited you but I don't seem to be getting your feeds....so I'm going to go and favour you right now so I can keep track of all your adventures in the garden.
Enjoyed reading this blog :)
1 Apr, 2011
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Very descriptive Sarah, had me smiling, I think you`ve done your best and hope it rewards all your efforts....
15 Mar, 2011