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Established lavender suddenly died.

Hello all, amateur gardener here looking for advice. 

In our front garden we have mini box hedges going up the drive then at a diagonal are the same box hedges separated by lavender bushes. 

When we moved in six years ago, these were already well established and each year I've given them a trim in April, and then again when everything has died off in October. No issues, each prune seemed to make the lavender come back even better each year.

I've just gone out to weed the area and well, basically pulled up a woody lavender bush without any effort. There is green foliage on the ends but the rest of the plant either crumbles or snaps and there's a white residue all over the roots.

Come to think of it, some of the leaves on the box hedges look a bit orange/yellow and they've never been like that!

What's the white stuff likely to be? Is it likely to affect the remaining box hedges and other lavender?

Watering schedule, occasionally last year when it was hot but otherwise I've left them well alone as the area hasn't the greatest drainage (although it never floods in torrential rain)

Many thanks in advance.
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Im afraid that even in the best conditions lavender isn’t a long lived plant. If yours were well established 6 years ago they’re probably reaching the end of their natural life  :/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Agree wth @Dovefromabove - wise after the event but always a good idea to take cuttings after 3 or 4 years to ensure a good supply of plants as replacements.
    You can sometimes rejuvenate older plants by trimming back ( not into the old wood ) and mulch over the surface but it sounds as if yours are beyond that stage.
  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    edited June 2023
    I take cuttings or pot up rogue seedlings the third year, and replace original plants on their fifth year. I learned the hard way, and have repeated this process ever since. I hate paying for replacement plants if I don't have to.
    I'm miserly!!!

    You've done well to get them this far.
  • ohdeeremeohdeereme Posts: 39
    Awwww thank you all so much for getting back to me. I'm so disappointed.

    I am such an amateur that it didn't even occur to take cuttings. They've always done so well I assumed they were just super tough. 

    Hmmm, at least there's no apparent disease or anything!

    Thank you 😊
  • ohdeeremeohdeereme Posts: 39
    Agree wth @Dovefromabove - wise after the event but always a good idea to take cuttings after 3 or 4 years to ensure a good supply of plants as replacements.
    You can sometimes rejuvenate older plants by trimming back ( not into the old wood ) and mulch over the surface but it sounds as if yours are beyond that stage.
    Unfortunately, I think you are correct, roots were just powdering or snapping easily. I'm such a weakling too, I can't believe one came up without effort 😭
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    It is so easy to make a mistake @ohdeere20219RdGTx-I - don't berate yourself - you'll know how to do it next time and we all have to learn - sod's law it's usually by trial and error  :)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    In gardening we have to find the silver linings … every dead plant is a new planting opportunity 😆 

    And now a decision to make … are you going to replant to the same design or … maybe think about designing a new planting scheme …?

    We love a project 😍


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ohdeeremeohdeereme Posts: 39
    Oh, no, I'm going to rip up the remaining ones next weekend, I've checked them over and there's a lot of dead wood amongst them. Plus it does look daft with having removed one 🤣

    It'll also give me a good chance to properly evaluate the little hedges and go from there.

    I'll no doubt post on here for advice!

  • I too learnt the hard way that lavanders don't last for ever (and French lavanders even less for me). I now buy cheap lavander plugs every few years and pot them up  the year before I plan to replace my old ones. I got these 6 in a small bedding tray for a few pounds last year and they will be going out at some point this year to replace the older plants.
  • EmptyheadtimeEmptyheadtime Posts: 366
    edited June 2023

    If it makes you feel better here's my rather poorly French lavander. This is its third season but its had it this year and its time to go.😄 it was lovely last 2 years.
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