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French Lavender In Pot Advice

harmonyharmony Posts: 396
in Plants
Hi, I would appreciate any advice on looking after French Lavender In a pot. I have read that they don't need watering too much so I have been doing it once a week. The middle of the plant looks very brown, although the ends look ok apart from the gap from the broken stem due to my over excited lab wacking it with his tail 😬. Should I be feeding as I have read conflicting advice and if it flowers should I cut back after. It is on a sheltered patio in full sun from 11am to 6pm. Thanks...

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  • foxwalesfoxwales Posts: 69
    They like free draining soil and don't require much watering.  Can you feel any moisture in the pot still after a week of no water? If you can, you have a drainage issue.  It's a bit brown and woody in the middle, unless you cut these back hard to where there is still some green growth, you get this happening.  I'd either plant out in the garden or get rid and replace with a younger lavender.  They will get woody as they age, it's just the nature of these plants
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    For what it's worth, I've found French lavender does better in the ground. Bought in flower around April and will more or less stay that way into October or later.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 53,942
    It's interesting you saying that @Dirty Harry. One of my neighbours has some - in all the 'wrong' conditions according to the info. North-ish facing site, only gets a bit of sun late afternoon for a short while [ even in summer ] cold clay and shaded all winter. Our climate isn't very 'continental' either, yet it looks better than any of the English lavenders round here, in supposedly 'the right' conditions.  :)
    Anything in a pot still needs watered, regardless of what it would like growing in the ground. Rosemary is the same. Sharp drainage, gritty soil,  make sure the holes are never blocked, and they can be watered regularly.  :)
    It might be too far gone in that middle section though. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    To be fair I've only had one in a pot once but it was a perfect comparison as I bought 2 at the same time.

    One went in the ground and I've always done so since because of that. Treated as an annual though as any winter here seems to ruin them.

    That being said, garden centres open tomorrow and I don't have any room left in my borders so might be tempted again...
  • foxwalesfoxwales Posts: 69
    Winter shouldn't be seeing off your lavender unless you live up north.  Try cutting back hard in spring instead if you happen to do it end of summer/early autumn
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