Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Recommendations please

ohdeeremeohdeereme Posts: 39
in Problem solving
Hi all

I hope you are well

I pulled up two lavender plants last year as they randomly died. I looked closer and they had white velvety fluffy stuff at the roots and the stems were brittle, no life whatsoever left.

They've been here longer than we have in this house (7 years for us) so I'm guessing they've done well?



I'm about to remove the remainder but what would you plant in the spaces to replace the lavender. I'm hesitant to get more but loved the amount of butterflies and bees they brought in, so it would have to be something wildlife friendly, please.

Thank you!

Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Our Sarcococca confusas are definitely loved by the bees and us for their fabulous scent this time of the year. A good source of early food for the insects that are around. Not had any butterflies yet but haven't noticed that they visit the plants.
    Maybe plant out one more lavender so that the butterflies have a source of food as well. Our lavenders have been in the same place for over 30 years! We did plant a new one 3 years ago and it is doing far better than the old ones. We do prune them back each year.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited 3 March
    There's quite a lot of planting in that border.  Anything new you add is going to need a bit of growing space to get established. Whereabouts in the country are you, what type of soil do you have and which direction does the bed face? These details will all help with suitable recommendations. You've done extremely well with those lavenders @bertrand-mabel, mine get woody after about 5 years and need to be replaced!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • ohdeeremeohdeereme Posts: 39
    Hi Plant minded

    Thank you for your reply. I'm 'happy' to rip it all out or some of the hedges.

    We have lovely topper soil, then about a foot down it's clay. 

    We're in Mid Suffolk and garden is south facing at the front 

    Kind regards
    Sarah 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited 3 March
    If your soil topper is free draining @ohdeereme, then an alternative for lavender which I use is Nepeta. It is a real bee magnet and flowers throughout the summer. There are several varieties, all with slightly different heights and spreads. I prefer the more upright and contained variety, N. Purrsian Blue (but not the name!) 😊. For butterflies, try Verbena bonariensis, a tall airy perennial which also has a long flowering period. A Buddleia will also guarantee butterfly visitors! Another perennial which will thrive in clay soil and is possibly more popular with bees than Nepeta is Lythrum. I grow Lythrum 'Dropmore Purple' which has deep pink/purple flowers and a compact habit seen here. Good luck with your planting!


    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • ohdeeremeohdeereme Posts: 39
    Thank you so much for your feedback 😊
Sign In or Register to comment.