I bought some unnamed lavender plugs,a couple of years ago. The flower stems are so long that they lie horizontally on the ground. Is there anything that I can do to encourage shorter stems?
Hi you need to cut back every year or the whole plant becomes too woody. Could be they aren't getting enough sun either and the stems are reaching towards the light. A picture would help x
It depends on the variety. I had white lavender in my last garden and its flower stalks were much longer than the blue Hidcote although they did stand up rather than lie down.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I might try moving them to the back of the border. The stems were over 2ft long! I was wondering if I Chelsea chopped the flower stems, might they sprout shorter ones or would I just get no flowers? @Obelixx did you get your Kindle going?
I have the same problem with my lavenders. Have two areas where I grow them. They are both in full sun, in a fairly dry but kinda free draining bed, on in the front garden the other in the back. The flower stems are very long and completely horizontal. I cut the flower spikes on the back garden ones down in med August and now have a second flush, but still horizontal. Would love them to stand upright like you see in lavender fields!
try growing them 'harder' - more grit, less soil. Some varieties have long flower stems - it's not anything you can change (unless you change the plants). I have a 'grosso' plant which has very long flower stems but it grows upright. It's planted in very poor stony soil. I don't know but I would guess that if they grow in better soil they are 'softer' so more likely to flop.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I'm inclined to forego the flowers and keep them trimmed as tight foliage plants. The flowers are a complete mess. If that doesn't work, I'll have pleasantly scented compost next year
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I think I shouldn't have bought six pigs in a poke
@Obelixx did you get your Kindle going?
Lavenders need full sun and good drainage so maybe the back of the border isn't the best place? Depends how deep it is I suppose.
Must have the same pigs as you B3....
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
If that doesn't work, I'll have pleasantly scented compost next year