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Lavender plants recommendation

OtherChrisOtherChris Posts: 20
in Plants
Hello,

We have two large flowerbeds full of a huge variety of perennials. These are edged by lavender plants. While the lavender looks lovely in the summer, over the years it has got more and more scraggy and woody and it's probably about time we replaced it. 

Could anybody recommend a variety of lavender plant that would be suitable for this - including some idea of how far apart we'd need to space them to make a nice looking border? 

I've attached a photo showing how they looked a couple of summers ago...

Many thanks for any advice/suggestions.

 

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    To be honest you can't go far wrong with the old classics "Hidcote" or "Munstead".  l have a variety called "Blue Cushion" that has done really well for the last 8 years or more, but is looking ready to be replaced now.
    I'm assuming you're looking for the English varieties rather than the French ?
    According to the pot size l plant them around a foot apart  :)
  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    Beautiful garden you have there.

    My understanding of lavender is that it's a plant that you need to expect to replace every few years, for the reasons you have outlined.

    I bought a few large potted Hidcote lavenders last year to line a path with, just as you have. They were end of season reductions and quite a bargain. Sadly I never got the opportunity to plant them so they have sat all winter on my patio. Hoping they will have survived ok to plant this year.

    As for distance apart, I'd guess 1ft to 2ft maybe. Closer together will give a more instant look, but they can grow big so can be planted further apart if you dont mind waiting for the to fill the gaps between them.

    My understanding is they don't necessarily need only occasional and little watering as you may assume, and they can happily take more watering than you'd believe, but excess water must be able to drain away, it's sitting in water they don't like.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Stunning garden!  I agree with the recommendations above, space about 1 foot apart to create a hedge effect bordering your path.  Hidcote has the best blue and scent but try to get British grown.  When planting incorporate lots of horticultural grit into your soil to ensure adequate drainage.  Your plants will need regular watering though in their first growing season to get them fully established.  They won't need any feeding as they prefer impoverished soil which encourages better flowering. Wait until the soil warms up in April before planting and try to buy plants in at least 2 litre pots to get a good start! 

    This RHS guide will help you: How to grow lavender / RHS Gardening 
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    Can’t really add anything to the good advice above, but just to say that I’d second Hidcote for its depth of colour.

    I also once watched a GW (I think it was) that specifically looked at lavender and the myths surrounding pruning of it. The expert (can’t recall who it was) said that if you cut it right back to the first twiggy bits where you see the tiniest of new leaves emerging (they look like minuscule, silvery buds), even though that is considerably further back than most people think is ok, it really gives older plants a lift and regenerates them.

    But ultimately yes, they don’t last forever.
  • OtherChrisOtherChris Posts: 20
    Many thanks for the advice, I'm off to buy some lavender plants!
  • addisonjosephine42addisonjosephine42 Posts: 1
    Thank you very much for sharing it. Incredible work. It would be great if you kept on writing like this so that we could get new updates and be roused.
  • Bright starBright star Posts: 1,153
    Lovely garden @chris 891. I would highly recommend this website for choice of lavender and very detailed care instructions and videos of how to prune.

    https://downderry-nursery.co.uk/

    I have several different lavenders from their website. I got a new one last year called Olympia which has very dark blue flowers and silvery foliage, it did well last year so I’m expecting it to be even better this time.
    Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.

  • OtherChrisOtherChris Posts: 20
    Thanks again to all who advised, I have ordered 100 large Hidcote lavenders for delivery mid-April. Here's a couple of pics of our ongoing preparations. All looks a bit of a mess at the moment but looking forward to the finished effect in the summer
  • bullfinchbullfinch Posts: 692
    What a beautiful setting  :)
  • OtherChrisOtherChris Posts: 20
    And now for the next problem  ;) The end of the main bed looks a mess. It has two evil berberis bushes, a variegated "thing" that's grown out of control and lots of weeds. I'd like to dig this end up and start again as it faces on to our patio and could look lovely through the summer.

    Any ideas for what I could put in there? Happy to plant a load of annuals, but would like that piece to be a vibrant wash of colour through the summer if possible. 

    Many thanks for any suggestions, and I'll post photos of what I end up doing and how it ends up looking..


     

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