|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Aug 28, 2006 8:28:40 GMT
I have many Lavender plants in tubs and this year, so says The Book, you should prune them back when they finish flowering
Which I did
Now they look as if they have died. They look awful, wilting leaves, dark brown stems
Is this normal?
|
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Aug 28, 2006 8:48:34 GMT
hi jennywren - it depends how literal you're being about "brown".
If you cut them back hard - into last year's brown wood, then yes, you've probably killed them, or at the least given them a semi-terminal shock!!
If you cut above the brown wood leaving a half inch or so, then though the appearance may look straggley and 'brown', they will respond next year with better bushiness.
It was probably just a tad too early too.... you could have enjoyed them for a bit longer, I'd have thought.
I'ts an annual tussle with lavender, I'm afraid. You can never truly keep them the size you want, 'cos you have to leave some fresh growth. In the end (though it may be some way off!) they get too big and you have to replace them.
Take cuttings from the trimmings though, and you have dozens of replacement plants to use or swop!!
OM.
|
|
|
|
Post by obelixx on Aug 28, 2006 8:56:21 GMT
Hi Jenny, you're only supposed to prune enough to take off the flower stalks and maybe an inch or so of leaves. More than that and you cut into old wood which does not renew itself. If you've done it rihght and they're still failing, could it be old age? They are perennial but not eternal.
|
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Aug 28, 2006 9:02:48 GMT
Oh dear thank you both will just have to wait and see - I did leave three of them alone in case I was doing something wrong
I have prunitus and cant stop once I get going
The ones I did prune are only this year's buy
<sobsobsobsmiley>
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2006 6:52:51 GMT
two of mine have been transported a few times now and are still going strong (although not rampant).
their current home is going to become the "onion bed" so they'll be on the move again shortly. When's best to lift ?
|
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Aug 29, 2006 20:05:09 GMT
Most trees and shrubby plants continue gentle root growth through the winter while the soil is relatively warm still - so disturbing them in late Autumn gives the best chance of recovery in time for Spring 'top growth'.
Also, you'll have cut them back by then, so the roots won't have as much 'servicing' to do!
OM
|
|
|
|
Post by Cheerypeabrain on Aug 29, 2006 20:37:55 GMT
Hlo Jenny, I've gone a bit lavender-mad this year too...have about 7 varieties all told, most in pots. I have killed plants before by hacking them back a bit too enthusiastically.....but you might find that there's still life in yours yet. Just give them a bit of TLC and let the plant sort itself out. One that I thought I'd killed 4 years ago is now a lovely little standard (only one shoot survived!) that I'm jolly proud of...I even let people think I made it intentionally!<smugsmiley>
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2006 16:29:49 GMT
I have about 50 hidcote plants in my front garden - I have learned from bitter experience that it is better to do nothing with lavender until the spring. Cutting back in the autumn gives the plants no protection from the winter weather. The birds love feeding from the seed heads during the winter BTW, too.  |
|
|
|
Post by jlottie on Sept 17, 2006 21:06:44 GMT
I cut my lavender back a few weeks ago as most of the flowers were going over. Now I have another flush of flowers, is this normal?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2006 6:47:03 GMT
I have a few new flowers too - August was quite cold and very wet - perhaps the plants think it's spring |
|
|
|
Post by toonia on Sept 18, 2006 11:35:05 GMT
The lavender fields of Provence...we were there a bit late to see them really purple. Reading this made me want to go there, although I've heard Norfolk is pretty spectacular too!  |
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on Sept 18, 2006 11:37:04 GMT
That looks absolutely lovely Toonia. I've seen the lavender fields in Norfolk and they are quite beautiful - it's such a delicate colour and so different from seeing Rape in fields which is SOOOOOO bright!
|
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Sept 20, 2006 20:01:39 GMT
I've got lavender fields as my start up picture on my laptop. I ordered 6 varieties of lavender from J Parkers earlier this year but they arrived dead and despite my contacting them to say so, no more were sent. I don't mind though because they sent me an extra free gift by accident and it was worth more than the lavenders <G>
I've got a lavender in the garden which I grew from seed and can't for the life of me remember which it is. Hidcote I think. Next year I'll get some of the different varieties such as the white and pink ones cos I think they're luvverly.
|
|
