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Lavender dilemma

FritillariaScotlandFritillariaScotland Posts: 67
in Problem solving
Hi all, what a lovely forum, I've learnt so much from you just browsing the problem shooting posts! I wonder if you can help me plan my next step for my lavender project. We moved to our house a few years ago and the previous owners had lavenders in three really old containers. The lavenders got really leggy by last year, despite my best efforts at timely pruning, so I had decided to replace the plants in one container and keep the ones in the other two. I seem to be a bit sentimental about throwing plants out, it takes me an awful lot to get rid of one 😆. As you'll see from the pictures, my gamble hasn't paid off, the ones I newly planted seem dead and the old ones are coming on ok. Should I get rid of the visibly dead plants in picture two and get some new ones? Do the plants in picture one need to be put out of their misery too? If yes, what variety of lavender is absolutely bullet proof for wet and colder climates? Thank you very much for your help! 

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    You want the English lavender types, Lavandula angustifolia. That's what your old ones look like. Common varieties include "Hidcote" and "Munstead". Check the height of of varieties before you choose though, some get quite tall. Avoid the French lavender types, the ones with the big tufty petals on the tops of the flowers (Lavandula stoechas) - they need it milder.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Yeah those bottom 2 looks like the french ones when they've taken a battering from the cold.
  • owd potterowd potter Posts: 979
    I think I would try to prune your 2 existing Lavenders back to the lowest new growth on each stem and branch, removing all the old growth above that point.
    Lovely troughs btw. 
    Just another day at the plant...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited March 2021
    I'd get new plants and fresh compost.they're not expensive
    Lavenders aren't long- lived and they get woody in their old age.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    they're the horticultural equivalent of threadbare curtains, You'd not leave crappy curtains at your windows , why have crappy plants in the garden?
    Devon.
  • FritillariaScotlandFritillariaScotland Posts: 67
    Fantastic, thank you all, you've given me lots of food for thought. 
  • FritillariaScotlandFritillariaScotland Posts: 67
    owd potter said:
    I think I would try to prune your 2 existing Lavenders back to the lowest new growth on each stem and branch, removing all the old growth above that point.
    Lovely troughs btw.

    I'm almost too embarrassed to admit that this is them pruned back, Owd Potter. I take it I'll need to give it another go then 🤣🤣
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