Lavender

Joanne Morewood

I'm a novice gardener. Last year I planted a lavender plant in a good sized pot but looking at it now it looks quite dry and a bit woody. Is it wise to cut it right down and see what happens?

BobTheGardener

Hi joanne, don't cut it back hard as lavender doesn't often grow new shoots on old wood, so doing that will almost definitely be the end of it.  If it still has the flower stalks on it, cut those off, about 1-2cm into green(ish!) leaves, below.  Most of mine look very sad at the moment, but there is still hope yet as the weather is only just starting to warm up, something it really needs.  RHS pruning advice here:

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=127

 

chicky

Joanne - I agree with Bob. I would give any possibly dead plant another couple of months to resurrect itself.  Once the weather warms up it is amazing how quite unpromising sticks can burst into life.  All my lavenders are looking pretty grotty at the moment - but pretty sure they are all still alive.  Good luck!

chilli lover

I agree! My OH was telling me this aft that mine were done with - he has no idea! I am not digging them out yet!!

Flower bird

I have moved my lavender into the garden today, planted it in our clay soil, hope it takes, was looking a bit worse for wear in its pot.....hope it settles, I know clay soil isn't the best, put some compost round it so will see how it goes.

figrat

They do like good drainage, it's often advised to put a couple of handfuls of grit into the planting hole if you're gardening on heavy soil.

Joanne Morewood

Thanks everyone, I will wait for now and see how it does.

Gold1locks

English lavender is hardier than French lavender, and some English lavender are a lot hardier than others. My English lavender 'Sawyers' is a sliver leaved variety and more tender tha most. It has not survived this winter in a reasonably sheltered spot although Imperial gem, a much hardier one, survived in an exposed spot, in a pot (which gives less portection than open ground.

In the winter of 2011 all my bay laurels appeared to have been killed, all the leaves went brown, the stems went black, and I could see no new growth until JUNE! I nearly dug them up in May!! Now they are back up to 4 ft tall and looking really healthy. 

Flower bird

Thanks figrat, chopped up the soil alot , will keep an eye on it.......have got a load of grit, should have checked this out before planting.....could always go back and put some grit down tomorrow.