What’s wrong with my lavender?

zoelday

Hi all, I planted 4 lavender  plants this time last year (either side of the box balls) 
and the 2 on the left have grown and flourished but the two on the right are not well at all! 

I can’t understand why! 

AnniD

Hello and welcome 
There certainly is a difference !  I'm wondering if it's possibly due to drainage problems or maybe vine weevil damage.  Could you dig one up and have a look at the roots ?

zoelday

Yes I’ll do it tomorrow, and take a picture, thank you!

zoelday

What am I looking for in the roots? Should I take them out and try to grow them elsewhere? 

Thanks for your help! X

AnniD

There don't seem to be many new roots (a paler colour).  Normally l would think it's just bad luck, but the fact that out of the four,  two on the same side look so sick is very strange. It could be vine weevil damage, but l am really not sure
https://www.lovethegarden.com/uk-en/article/vine-weevils

@WillDB is a bit of a vine weevil expert, so l have tagged him to see what he thinks.

They couldn't have been accidentally sprayed with weedkiller? I'm really stumped !

Normally with most plants, l would say pot them up,  cut them back and see if they recover , but with lavender you can't really cut back into old wood.
Did you buy all four from the same supplier?  Most suppliers have a form of plant guarantee,  you might be able to claim your money back.
Hopefully someone else might have some ideas 

JennyJ

Could be drainage (they like it sharp - sitting in wet will kill them).

Other thoughts: do the poorly ones get less sun, being nearer the fence? Or maybe they're a bit less sheltered? It looks like French lavender which is not fully hardy.

zoelday

Thanks everyone! Yes same supplier and no weed killer we don’t use it in the garden at all. I’ve reported them and if it doesn’t work I’ll get 2 hardier versions (what are hardier versions?) see if they work! Should I add sand and gravel to the soil? 
Thanks again! I’m a novice!

Chrissy the gardener

I wonder do they catch the wind on that side.

Greenbird

I've planted a border of lavender and lost the odd one in the exact same way. Never got to the bottom of it. 

AnniD

English lavender is considered hardier than French. Two of the best known varieties are "Hidcote" and "Munsted" 

JennyJ

If the labels have the Latin names if/when you look for new ones, the English lavender is Lavandula angustifolia (sometimes Lavandula officinalis but  think that's an old name) and the French is Lavandula stoechas. There are different varieties available of each, so check height and spread to make sure they won't outgrow the space - some of the English lavenders can get quite big.