Namecheck
- Genus: Lavandula
- Most common variety: English Lavender (lavandula angustifolia)
- Other popular varieties: French (lavandula stoechas), Fringed (lavandula dentata), Portuguese (lavandula latifolia) and Egyptian (lavandula multifida).
What Is Lavender Like?
There are thirty-different Lavender species. It is an extremely popular plant and is cultivated in temperate climates. It is grown for extracting essential oils or as ornamental landscape plants.
This herb or perennial loves the sun and thrives best in soil that drains well. Additionally, it is tolerant of diseases, pests, and drought. Across varieties, hardiness, bloom times, leaf shapes, flowers, and colours do vary.
Since it can be confusing to know which lavender hedge is perfect for your own garden, taking your time to select the right variety will go a long way.
What Colour Is A Lavender Hedge?
Lavender leaves are spear-shaped, small, and are green when they are young. As they age, they turn silvery grey. With age, the leaves brighten to a distinctive hue of silver during the summer heat and in the winter months, they stay silver. Some leaves have toothlike, rounded dentations.
What Are Lavender Flowers Like?
Flowering typically occurs in early May and in June and some varieties also flower in Autumn.
The flowers are violet, ranging from medium to light violet; shades can also range from blueish indigo, violet to purple.
What Are Lavender Hedge Fruits Like?
Small evergreen Lavender shrubs have linear, grey-green leaves. The sparsely arranged flowers are arranged on the tips like spikes on bare long stalks and produce small nutlet fruits used the same way as the flower, for adding fragrance beverages and body, room or linen sprays.
How Do I Prune A Lavender Hedge?
Keep your lavender hedge in tip top condition by trimming it back once the flowers have come and gone (usually late summer). Cut the stems back to within 2cm of the growth from previous years and you will prevent the plants from becoming too woody and keep the shrub in shape.
How Do I Propagate A Lavender Hedge?
You can propagate lavender in water or soil. First, take branch cuttings with no flowers. as it takes a lot of energy from a plant to produce flowers. Branches with no flowers will be able to put energy into growing new roots.
- Find a branch and cut it from the plant at the stem’s base. Each cutting should have five leaf nodes.
- Remove the last three leaf sets from the stem base. This is where the roots are going to grow.
- Dip the base in rooting hormone.
- Make a hole in a soil that is contained in a pot, or prepare a vase with water.
- Stick the base of the plant into the soil or the water.
- Your new cutting should develop roots in a few days.
- Replant the cutting in a more permanent place once roots begin to show.
How Do I Plant A Lavender Hedge?
It is best to plant your hedge in the spring when the soil begins to warm up. If you plant lavender in the Autumn, use plants that are bigger to ensure winter survival.
Two to three feet apart is a good measurement for planting lavender.
The plant thrives in moderately fertile or poor soil, so keep it away from moist, wet areas. Lavender plants require well-drained soil and full sun. Organic matter keeps the soil healthy. If you have sandy soil, improve drainage by mixing in some gravel. High-humidity areas should take care to add in space for airflow around each plant.
Space out the plants fifteen inches apart and after one year, you will soon see that the hedges have filled in between the spaces.
If your Lavender plants receive six full hours of sunshine each day they will reward you with beautiful fragrant flowers for months.
What Are The Main Threats For A Lavender Hedge?
A lavender hedge is tougher than you think and is resistant to most pests and diseases.
Xylella bacterium is the biggest concern. This destroys entire fields of lavenders no matter how many hectares are involved. Bacteriacide created specifically to combat Xylella can save your lavender.
Fun Facts About Lavender
- The Lavender scent deters mosquitos, flies, and mice.
- The oil of lavender can be used to induce sleep.
- Lavender reduces stress and anxiety just from its scent.
- Soothe aching joints and muscles with Lavender oil.
