Replanting lavender in spring to another place. Lavender - growing secrets. Garden lavender: varieties with photo names

Thyme or thyme? Or maybe thyme or Bogorodskaya grass? Which is correct? And it’s correct in every way, because these names “pass” the same plant, more precisely, one genus of plants from the Lamiaceae family. There are many others folk names, associated with the amazing property of this shrub to release a large amount of aromatic substances. The cultivation of thyme and its use in garden design and cooking will be discussed in this article.

Favorite Saintpaulias have not only a special appearance, but also a very specific character. Growing this plant bears little resemblance to classical care indoor crops. And even the relatives of Uzambara violets from among the Gesnerievs require a slightly different approach. Watering is often called the most “strange” point in caring for violets, which prefer non-standard watering classical method. But the approach will also have to be changed when it comes to fertilizing.

Useful, hardy, unpretentious and easy to grow, marigolds are irreplaceable. These summer gardens have long since moved from city flower beds and classic flower beds to original compositions, decorating beds and potted gardens. Marigolds, with their easily recognizable yellow-orange-brown colors and even more inimitable aromas, today can pleasantly surprise with their diversity. Firstly, among marigolds there are both tall and miniature plants.

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Our grandmothers, growing garden strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, did not particularly worry about mulching. But today this agricultural technique has become fundamental in achieving High Quality berries and reducing crop losses. Some might say it's a hassle. But practice shows that labor costs in in this case pay off handsomely. In this article we invite you to get acquainted with the nine the best materials for mulching garden strawberries.

Succulents are very diverse. Despite the fact that “little ones” have always been considered more fashionable, the range of succulents with which you can decorate modern interior, it’s worth taking a closer look. After all, colors, sizes, patterns, degree of prickliness, impact on the interior are just a few of the parameters by which you can choose them. In this article we will tell you about the five most fashionable succulents that amazingly transform modern interiors.

Sponge cake with chocolate cream - light, fluffy and airy, with delicate fudge cream based on milk powder, cocoa and cream. It takes very little time to prepare this dessert, and the ingredients are simple, inexpensive and accessible. Homemade cakes for evening tea are pleasant and cozy moments in life that any housewife can organize for her family or friends. coconut flakes You can substitute toasted walnuts in this recipe.

It often happens that chemical insecticides, especially those that have been on the market for a long time, cease to act on pests due to the development of resistance to the active substance, and then they can come to the rescue biological drugs, which, by the way, have a number of advantages. In this article you will learn how Lepidocid will protect vegetable, berry, ornamental and fruit crops from leaf-eating pests.

The Egyptians used mint as early as 1.5 thousand years BC. It has a strong aroma due to the high content of various essential oils, which are highly volatile. Today, mint is used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, winemaking, cooking, ornamental gardening, and the confectionery industry. In this article we will look at the most interesting varieties of mint, and also talk about the features of growing this plant in open ground.

People began growing crocuses 500 years before our era. Although the presence of these flowers in the garden is fleeting, we always look forward to the return of the harbingers of spring next year. Crocuses are one of the earliest primroses, whose flowering begins as soon as the snow melts. However, flowering times may vary depending on the species and varieties. This article is dedicated to the earliest varieties of crocuses, which bloom in late March and early April.

Cabbage soup made from early young cabbage in beef broth is hearty, aromatic and easy to prepare. In this recipe you will learn how to cook delicious beef broth and cook light cabbage soup with this broth. Early cabbage cooks quickly, so it is placed in the pan at the same time as other vegetables, unlike autumn cabbage, which takes a little longer to cook. Ready cabbage soup can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Real cabbage soup turns out tastier than freshly prepared cabbage soup.

Blueberry – a rare and promising berry crop in the gardens. Blueberries are a source of biologically active substances and vitamins, have antiscorbutic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and tonic properties. The berries contain vitamins C, E, A, flavonoids, anthocyanins, microelements - zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, as well as plant hormones - phytoestrogens. Blueberries taste like a mixture of grapes and blueberries.

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Once very popular under the name of indoor nettle, and then forgotten by everyone, coleus today is one of the brightest garden and indoor plants. It is not for nothing that they are considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are primarily looking for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant monitoring. But if you take care of them, bushes made of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.

Salmon backbone baked in Provençal herbs provides tasty pieces of fish pulp for a light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. The champignons are lightly fried in olive oil and then poured over apple cider vinegar. These mushrooms are tastier than regular pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Wild garlic and fresh dill get along well in one salad, highlighting each other’s aroma. The garlicky pungency of wild garlic will permeate both the salmon flesh and mushroom pieces.

Lavender - beautiful plant, captivating with an elegant, subtle aroma. It has gained wide popularity among gardeners for a very long time. Fluffy bushes lavender, full of bright spikelets - magnificent plant for borders, alpine slides and rockeries.

Of course to get luxurious flower bed, you'll have to try. Lavender requires regular care.

The set of measures must include:
— loosening the soil;
- liquidation weeds;
- watering;
- pruning;
— application of fertilizers;
— preparation for winter.

Lavender - heat-loving plant. Therefore, it is not possible to grow this perennial in open ground in any climate zone. In cold climates, bushes should be planted in flowerpots and, at the first hint of cold weather, promptly move them to a warm place. Any variety of lavender can be grown as a potted plant.

Landing place

The key to success growing lavender - right choice landing places. The plant will like it most open areas, well lit by sunlight. The bushes will take root in the shade, as long as there is plenty of long flowering will not be possible to achieve.

The roots of the plant are sensitive to high level soil moisture. Therefore, you should refrain from planting lavender in wetlands and areas where the groundwater is too high. If there is no other option, you can try to build a hill and plant bushes on it. Excess moisture near the roots can be easily eliminated using a drainage layer.

Lavender is demanding regarding the level of acidity and soil structure. Therefore, if in doubt, it is better to play it safe - add a little to the soil before planting. wood ash or lime. These are effective soil deoxidizers. And to ensure a porous soil structure, it is enough to regularly add compost to the garden bed. It will not only loosen the soil, but also supplement it with nutrients.

Features of planting lavender

Planting lavender - a responsible process. Adult bushes do not tolerate replanting well; if you have to do it, do it carefully and only with a large lump of earth. It is better to immediately determine where the bushes grown from seeds, cuttings or layering will be located.

The distance between adjacent specimens should be approximately equal to their maximum height. Then the bushes will be lush. And to get a slender green hedge, you can reduce this parameter by half. This way you can achieve maximum solidity of the planting block.

Lavender cuttings take root fairly quickly. The planting algorithm is simple: deepen it a couple of centimeters into the loose soil mixture, cover it with film and regularly moisten the soil. Carefully dig up the rooted cuttings and transplant them to the chosen location.

Layers are rooted branches of a plant. For getting planting material You should bend one of the lower shoots to the side in the spring. Fix the place of contact with the ground level and cover it with soil. When a root ball forms, carefully cut off the cuttings sharp knife. Sprinkle the cut area with crushed coal to protect it from rotting processes. That's it - the cuttings are ready for planting.

Sowing Lavender Seeds

Lavender is difficult to propagate from seeds. But if it is not possible to purchase mature plant or twigs, you can also try sowing seeds.

Very important stage- stratification. Lavender seeds need to be kept for some time low temperatures. Here you can go in two ways: plant them directly in the ground at the end of autumn or carry out artificial stratification. The first method is only suitable for warm climate zones. If there is significant frost, the seeds may die. Therefore, it is better to opt for the second option.

For artificial stratification, the seeds must be mixed with a small amount of sand, poured into a container, wrapped in plastic and placed in the refrigerator. Keep them there for at least a month and a half. Better - longer. In this case, seedlings will appear faster. Then you can sow the seeds in boxes (at the end of winter) or in greenhouses outside (at the end of spring).

When sowing seeds, you will have to wait a whole year for flowering. In the first seasons, the seedlings will only develop, building up the root system. And only after a year, or maybe even two, they will delight the gardener with cute spikelets of inflorescences.

Tilling the soil near the bushes

Lavender does not like dense soils. Its roots really need good air circulation. In addition, of course, you need to get rid of weed pests near the lavender. Therefore, loosening the soil and weeding should become a regular procedure.

You can do it easier - organize a good mulch layer on the lavender bed. You can use rotted leaves or decorative multi-colored substrates as mulch. But in any case, the soil near the base of the trunk should remain uncovered. This will protect the plant from rotting.

Lavender should be watered very carefully. Excessive irrigation can lead to rotting of the roots and yellowing of the above-ground parts of the plant. Drought also has a bad effect on the plant - the lavender will not die, but the flowering will not be as luxurious as we would like. The ideal watering regime is as the soil dries out.

Pruning lavender bushes

This stage of caring for lavender cannot be called mandatory. But only by pruning can you achieve the formation of beautiful lush bushes. Therefore, you should not refuse a useful procedure.

The first pruning must be done immediately after the spikelets-inflorescences wither. You need to shorten the shoots literally by a couple of centimeters. At the end of the warm season, more drastic pruning is carried out. But you shouldn’t be overly enthusiastic here either. If you shorten all the branches to the level of the lignified part, the bush may die.

Fertilizer application

Mineral complexes, which are sold in all gardening and flower shops, are excellent as fertilizers for lavender. They should be applied at the beginning of flowering. Concentration - 2 tablespoons per bucket of water. The resulting solution needs to be poured onto the soil around the perimeter of the bushes.

Nitrogen fertilizers (2 tablespoons per bucket) are responsible for the development of green mass. Therefore, they are indispensable at the beginning of the growing season. But in the second half of summer it is prohibited to use them. Under the influence of nitrogen, the growing season is significantly extended. As a result, the plant does not have time to prepare for wintering.

You can even avoid using fertilizers if there is a thick layer of compost mulch under the bushes. Decaying under the influence external factors, it will supply the plant with nutrients throughout the season.

Preparing for winter

For lavender bushes that will spend the winter in open ground, you can organize a reliable shelter. True, in warm climatic zones you can do without it - according to experts, lavender will survive the winter well, even if the temperature drops to -25 ° C. If frosts stronger than this mark are expected, insulation is necessary. In addition, it would be a good idea to play it safe in cases where the winter may turn out to have little snow.

At the end of the season, lavender bushes are pruned. Branches are laid on top of the bed (preferably from coniferous trees). But the usual insulation in the form of a layer of foliage is not suitable. Under it, the lavender can rot.

All in all, lavender care not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Using compost mulch will eliminate the need for weeding, loosening and fertilizing. Therefore, the gardener will only have to trim the bushes in a timely manner so that they grow strong and bloom profusely.

Types of lavender

Many people associate lavender bushes with the constant purple. In fact, the shades of different varieties captivate with their diversity. There are specimens with blue, white, pink and even greenish colors. And this is just the main palette. And there are even more shades of spikelet inflorescences. But color is not the only difference between different varieties lavender.

According to the generally accepted classification, there are two broad groups: English and French.

English lavender has narrow leaves and elongated spikelets-inflorescences. It is worth noting that this type is the most widely used. Such varieties winter quietly in the middle zone, without the need for digging late autumn.

French lavender is a more capricious plant. Outwardly, it is similar to the previous species, but its leaves are wider and its inflorescences are shorter. Traditionally used as a potted plant. After all, even slight frosts down to -15 ° C can instantly destroy a plant.

Lavender - bright plant of an unusual shape, which is most often associated with the endless fields of Provence. It is planted as a decoration for borders and as beautiful partitions, combined with other flower crops and left as the basis for creating rockeries. decorates many albums of travelers in France.

In addition to aesthetic pleasure, the owner of the “lavender color” will also receive enormous benefits. The fact is that flowers contain substances that can calm nervous system and normalize sleep. In fact, by planting lavender next to the gazebo where you like to spend the evening or near the tea table on the terrace, you will be provided with nightly exercise against depression and despondency). This flower is very popular not only among healers, but also among perfumers. Even the ancients used essential oils to give them silkiness and shine.

This flower has long been popular among gardeners, however, you need to know all the intricacies of caring for it in order to achieve maximum and long flowering.

Lavender care

The list of activities that need to be done to ensure the growth of lavender is, on the one hand, voluminous, and on the other hand, simple. It includes:

• loosening the soil. This is a must for lavender to grow. It is ideal to mulch the ground,
• elimination of weeds,
• pruning the plant. Lavender loves pruning! It must also be carried out regularly, and to give lavender plantings a neat and decorative appearance, regular pruning of flower bushes is required. Lavender pruning is carried out both in autumn and spring. See how to do spring and autumn pruning at the end of the article.
• correct watering of the flower. Lavender is a rather capricious plant, so it should be watered very carefully. It does not tolerate drying out of the soil, but excessive moisture of the surface will also adversely affect the development of the plant. More precisely: for lavender it is better to dry out a little than to get too wet)
• application of fertilizers. During the period of abundant flowering, lavender must be fed with various mineral fertilizers. First of all, this is the application of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. Fresh manure is completely unsuitable for fertilizing flowering plants.
• mandatory preparation of lavender for the winter period.

This is what care is all about. But how much more important is it to plant lavender correctly! Please note that mature plants do not tolerate replanting quite well (lavender has a large root system and is always damaged when moved), so it is better to choose a place for planting in advance.

How to choose a landing site

The key to a successful lavender color is the right place for planting.

Temperature

Lavender thrives in regions with a southern climate, where it is provided with optimal conditions for development and long flowering conditions. In those regions where climatic conditions less favorable, it is more convenient to plant lavender in small outdoor boxes or flowerpots, which can easily be brought indoors with a sharp change in temperature. Lavender does not survive the winter season well and to preserve the bushes, it is necessary to provide shelter in advance (with dried flowers or pine branches or agrofibre). Foliage is not suitable for covering lavender, as it can rot under them in winter. At very low temperatures (more than -20 degrees), the plant also needs to be insulated.

Soil type

Lavender does not tolerate acidic soil. Therefore, to reduce acidity, add ash or eggshells. Lavender also does not like dense soils. Therefore, stock up on mulch in advance; you can use rotted leaves.

Sunny open place

Areas with open area, which are well exposed to the sun's rays. In the shade, already small bushes will grow dwarf and may not bloom. It would be more accurate to say this: if there is not enough sun, lavender simply will not bloom.

Not very moist soil

You should not plant sprouts in a wetland - the roots will immediately react to the amount of moisture. Even high groundwater can be detrimental to lavender. Lavender is very, very sensitive to dampness and suffers greatly from fungal diseases. Although lavender also does not tolerate drying out of the soil.

Spread distance

The distance between seedlings should be equal to the expected height of the bush. It is in this case that each bush will become lush and round shape. However, if you just need to achieve a green fence around, then it is enough to halve the distance and the lavender will no longer bloom.

For those who are going to grow and care for lavender in the country, you should pay attention to 3 points:

• the soil in which you will plant (not acidic or wet);
• sunny open place, without shadow;
• fertilizer during flowering.

When you grow this beauty in your dacha, you can still cook it, which will make you younger and more beautiful and happier.

Most often, lavender is bred by two methods - cuttings and seeds.

Propagation of lavender by cuttings or layering

Of course, it is better to buy lavender seeds and seedlings at specialized retail outlets, after additionally consulting with experienced specialists in matters of choice suitable variety plants and rules for caring for them. But, if on summer cottage There are already lavender plantings and you still have some experience in growing this plant, then you can try to carry out the procedure for obtaining young lavender seedlings yourself.

The first method is quite simple to implement - stalk you need to plant two to three centimeters in the ground, and then cover with film (or cut plastic bottle). The soil should be constantly moistened, and after the roots appear, planted on permanent place growth. Rule for cuttings:

• cut off the woody shoot;

Can be bred layering(by dividing the bush). You need to choose the lavender bush you like, pin one of the branches (a small shoot) to the ground and cover it lightly with soil, which must be covered with film until the roots appear. Then, when the root system is more developed (this will be next year), young plant separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a new territory.

Rule for layering:

• we choose a woody branch, but at the same time a soft one, so that the root system develops faster;
• we cut off the top with flowers so that it does not draw life-giving forces.

Can be diluted through shoot, which lavender provides abundantly in summer. To do this, the bush is pruned, separating the shoots and covered with earth. By autumn, you already have a new young bush ready, which needs to be dug up and transplanted to a permanent place.

What lavender shoots look like can be clearly seen in the video from 1:35 minutes.

Propagation of lavender by seeds

Lavender planting seeds, growing and care. Propagating lavender from seeds is a troublesome process. Although in relaxed conditions, some seeds germinate and produce good shoots.

Growing lavender from seeds at home

Seeds need to be cooled (stratified):

1. according to the first option, planting in the soil in late autumn, when the air temperature has dropped steadily to a maximum of +5 degrees;
2. according to the second, the mass of seeds mixed with sand should be placed in the refrigerator for at least 1-1.5 months. Optimal temperature+5 degrees. This method is much more reliable and productive.

Stratification the seeds are exposed due to the fact that lavender contains a large amount of esters, and during a period of sufficiently long cooling the “dense shell” is destroyed. Therefore, when the seeds are taken out and placed in heat, intensive formation of growth hormone begins. The process is so intense that the seeds germinate. Without stratification (cooling), the seeds will simply rot.

After the seeds undergo stratification, we sow them in the ground. Sowing can be done when the air temperature in the place where the lavender will germinate is at least 15 degrees, and preferably +20. It is better to do this in a separate pot and plant in a greenhouse or on glass loggia(this is ideal).

The soil needs to be light, and lavender seeds need to be sown very superficially, as they germinate in the sun. After sowing, cover the soil with film. It is necessary to carry out ventilation to remove condensation that forms on the film.

You can plant shoots grown from seeds when 1-2 leaves have formed. After the sprout has strengthened and there is a suitable temperature outside, it can be planted in open ground in a pre-selected place.

So once again the stages and nuances (lavender, planting seeds, growing and care):

1. seeds undergo stratification;
2. sow the seeds in a separate pot with lightly loosened soil;
3. seeds are sown superficially;
4. the flowerpot should be in the sun and in a room with a temperature of at least +15 degrees;
5. after 1-2 leaves appear, we plant the sprouts;
6. After rooting, we transplant it into open ground in a selected place.

Please note that when lavender is propagated by seeds, the bushes will not begin to bloom during the first 1-2 seasons - the root system will actively develop and this is where the plant will devote its strength.

Autumn pruning of lavender

Spring pruning of lavender

Lavender is one of the most famous aromatic plants. There is probably no person who, hearing this name, would not remember the lavender aroma. Not everyone loves this smell, but few will be indifferent to the sight of a blooming lavender field - a purple sea of ​​flowers swaying in the wind.

Lavender was popular back in Ancient Egypt, it was grown in the sacred garden of the city of Thebes. The ancient Romans used lavender flowers for bathing, washing hands, washing dishes and washing clothes. This is where the name of the flower comes from: in Latin lavare- wash.

During Soviet times, lavender was grown in Crimea for its oil. Over the past 25 years, its plantings have greatly decreased, and many essential oil farms have collapsed. But in 2016, lavender plantations were renewed with 2 million new seedlings. This gives reason to hope for the revival of the industry.

For thousands of years, people have used lavender as an aromatic, essential oil, melliferous, medicinal, and disinfectant plant. But it is no less valuable ornamental culture, which at proper care can be grown even in the Moscow region.

Lavender is a genus of evergreen subshrub from 30 to 100 cm in height with narrow green or gray-green leaves and spike-shaped inflorescences. The flowers are most often lilac or lilac-blue in color. All parts of the plant contain essential oil, the highest concentration is in flowers. In nature, lavender is found in the Canary Islands, Arabia, Eastern and North Africa, India and southern Europe. At favorable conditions Lavender bushes live up to 25 years.

The genus includes 47 species and 7 hybrids.

The most famous representative of the genus is Lavender angustifolia, or true, or English (Lavandula angustifolia, L. officinalis) . The leaves are from 2 to 6 cm long, narrow, with rolled edges, gray-green due to pubescence. The flowers are bluish-violet. This is the only type of lavender that winters in open ground in central Russia. Grown in culture various varieties of this species, differing in flower color, for example:

Munstead- lilac-blue,

A lba- white,

Rosea- pink,

Gem- dark purple.

Lavender serrated (Lavandula dentata) differs from other species by soft gray-green or silver leaves with jagged edges and large flowers violet color. Widely grown as an ornamental and essential oil plant. Most popular variety jagged lavender - Royal Crown, with lilac flowers.

Lavender stehada, or French (Lavandula stoechas) has narrow leaves 1-4 cm long and pinkish-purple flowers. Distributed in southern Europe, northern Africa and western Asia.

For Lavender latifolia (Lavandula latifolia), characterized by lanceolate leaves 3-6 cm long and 5-8 mm wide, wider than most types of lavender. The flowers are light blue. Its aroma differs from that of angustifolia lavender due to the presence of cineole, camphor and borneol. It is less refined, but the content essential oil higher in plants of this species. The most popular varieties:

Papillon- pinkish-purple flowers reminiscent of butterflies,

Tiara- large blue flowers,

Regal Splendour- dark purple flowers.

Lavender petiolate (Lavandula pedunculata) contains essential oils, the composition of which is close to the oils of broadleaf lavender. It has decorative value due to its large inflorescences consisting of scale-like bracts and long purple flowers at the apex.

Lavender woolly (Lavandula lanata) got its name from the thick layer of hairs on the leaves. Long spike-shaped inflorescences are purple in color.

Lavender multicut (Lavandula multifida) is very different in appearance from other varieties. The leaves are dissected, reminiscent of fern leaves, and the bluish-purple inflorescences are arranged in threes together at the end of a long peduncle. Grows in northern Africa and southern Europe. In central Russia it does not overwinter in open ground and is grown as an annual or houseplant.

Lavender green (Lavandula viridis) has an unusual color, its leaves and flowers are greenish-yellow. A particularly drought-resistant species, it grows in Portugal and Madera.

Hybrid lavender, or Dutch, or lavandin (Lavandula intermedia) is a natural sterile hybrid of English lavender and broadleaf. It is distinguished by large inflorescences and narrow silvery leaves. It grows up to 2 m high. It is used to make essential oils. The most famous varieties:

Arabian Night- dark purple,

Grosso- violet,

Seal- blue-lilac,

Olympia- dark purple.

Growing Lavender

What wisdom do you need to know in order to grow lavender in open ground? Planting and care, pruning, choosing a location... Let's consider everything in order.

Choosing a landing site

Wild lavender grows in mountainous and hilly areas, and prefers those areas where there is a lot of rainfall. Industrial cultivation of lavender geographically coincides with viticulture zones: France, Italy, Moldova, Crimea, North Caucasus. The soils on which this subshrub grows are infertile, slate or carbonate.

Important: lavender does not tolerate close proximity groundwater or stagnation of water during heavy rainfalls or melting snow in the spring. Therefore, when landing you need to choose high place and ensure good drainage.

To do this, you need to add washed river sand or small crushed stone to the soil. On heavy loams, lavender may not survive the winter.

Before planting, add a bucket of rotted manure or compost, 35-50 g of superphosphate and 20-25 g of potassium salt per 1 m² of area. This plant loves alkaline soils, acidic ones must be limed until a pH of 6.5-7.5 is reached.

The place where lavender will grow should be as sunny and open as possible.

Care

The plant does not require moisture, but does not tolerate long-term droughts. On light sandy or peat soils In dry summers it needs regular watering; on loams there is usually enough rain. In hot summers, mulching the soil around the bushes will retain moisture and prevent the formation of crust on the soil surface. If you leave the soil bare, you need to loosen it periodically to ensure air access to the roots. But during heavy rains, it is better to rake the mulch away from the bushes so that the plants do not rot.

At the beginning of summer, lavender can be fed with nitrogen fertilizers if the soils are very poor. In the second half of summer, excess nitrogen can interfere with flowering, but fertilizing with potassium will be very helpful.

Wintering

In a temperate climate, only angustifolia lavender overwinters in open gunta; other types of lavender cannot withstand the harsh Russian winters. But for successful wintering of this single species, certain conditions are required:

• The bushes are loosely covered with spruce branches (branches of coniferous trees), especially in areas exposed to the wind. It is better not to cover with leaves, the plants may dry out.
• In harsh winters with little snow, snow is raked around the bushes to save them from freezing.
• In the spring, snow is shoveled away, accelerating the warming of frozen soil and creating conditions for the roots to start working.
• Bushes are trimmed to reduce the area of ​​evaporation, otherwise the plants may dry out in the bright spring sun, when the roots are not yet able to draw water from the frozen ground.

Trimming

Some gardeners mistakenly believe that it is enough to remove only faded flower stalks from lavender. But then the plant will stretch out greatly, the branches will be exposed below and the bush will not look very decorative.

Important: lavender needs pruning. When pruning, shoots are shortened by one third of their length.

In the south, this procedure is carried out in the fall; in the middle zone and Siberia, it is better to postpone pruning until spring so that the plant suffers less damage in winter.

Bushes over 10 years old need to be rejuvenated. They are cut off almost at the root, leaving only 5 cm of shoots above the ground. It grew on my property old bush more than 1.5 m high. It is already more than 20 years old, the previous owners neglected it, the old branches became very bare and gradually died off. But after severe pruning, new strong shoots began to grow on seemingly lifeless branches, as if out of nowhere. So, even if the bush is neglected, do not be afraid to carry out anti-aging pruning, appearance plants will only benefit from this.

Growing at home

Lavender can be successfully grown not only in open ground, but also in room conditions. To do this, you must follow the following rules:

• From the end of October to February, organize additional lighting so that there is at least 10 hours of daylight.
• The room needs to be ventilated, but the plant should not be exposed to cold air; it is dangerous to leave it under an open window in winter.
• The main danger for lavender growing in an apartment is dry hot air, coming from batteries central heating. Therefore, in winter, pots of lavender should be taken to a cool room, where the temperature will not exceed 15 degrees and not fall below 5 degrees. If this is not possible, it is recommended to install a humidifier in the room and spray the plants with water from a spray bottle daily.
• In summer, it is better to take pots of lavender out onto the balcony or loggia.

Reproduction

Most often, lavender is propagated from green cuttings. For beginners, methods such as dividing the bush and propagating by layering are more suitable. But if you don’t have cuttings or bushes at hand, then it’s quite possible to grow this aromatic plant from seeds.

Propagation by seeds

In the southern regions, lavender seeds can be sown directly in open ground before winter. But in most of our country, winters are too harsh for this method of planting, and plants are grown through seedlings.

In January, the seeds are mixed with sterilized wet sand and placed in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. After one or two months, in February-March, the seeds are planted in the prepared soil. To prepare the soil, mix 3 parts garden soil, 2 parts humus and 1 part washed river sand. It's also good to add perlite.

When two true leaves appear, the seedlings dive into separate pots. In May-June, seedlings are planted in a permanent place, keeping a distance between bushes of 50-100 cm. The further south the growing region, the more magnificent the bushes will be and the more more space must be left for plant development.

Lavender begins to bloom on the second day abundant flowering from the third year.

Propagation by cuttings

To propagate lavender, at the end of June, young, slightly lignified cuttings 10 cm long are cut off. lower leaves, powder the cut with root and plant it in a mini-greenhouse, maintaining a distance of 6 cm between rows and 4 cm in a row. The substrate for planting needs a light one: a mixture of sand, perlite, peat, turf soil.

After 4-5 weeks, the branches will grow roots. If the cuttings grow in the ground, then transplant them to a permanent place in the spring. Young plants in pots need to be replanted no later than mid-August so that they have time to take root in their new location before the onset of cold weather. Therefore, you cannot be late with cuttings. If you still fail to plant the shoots in a permanent place in time, you can winterize them in a cool room with a temperature of 5-15 degrees.

Reproduction by layering

This is the easiest way to propagate lavender and is accessible even to novice gardeners. In spring, the lower shoots are bent to the ground and placed at the bottom of a groove 3-5 cm deep. Then they are fixed, for example, with a pin made of thick wire and sprinkled with earth. At the end of summer, roots form on the buried area of ​​the stem, as evidenced by the appearance of new leaves. If the roots have not grown enough for independent existence, then the cuttings are left until next summer. A year later, the shoot with roots is carefully cut off, the cut area is sprinkled with coal and the new plant is transplanted to a permanent place.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

An overgrown lavender bush over 3 years old can be divided into several individual plants. In the fall, the bush needs to be heavily pruned, to a height of 8-10 cm from the ground, and covered well with earth, so that there is no void left between the stems. In the spring, add soil again, as the soil will settle over the winter. In the fall, the bush can be dug up and divided into individual plants.

Diseases and pests

Lavender is a fairly problem-free plant in terms of being affected by diseases and pests. But occasionally troubles happen to him.

Gray rot

Due to waterlogging in cool weather, lavender bushes can develop gray mold. This happens quite rarely when there are drainage problems. Rotten parts of the plant should be cut off and burned so as not to spread the fungus.

Penny (slobber)

This insect from the category of cicadas is distributed throughout Russia. The length of the pennice is 5-8 mm, it can have different colors, from solid black to light brown with various patterns. They can live in both very wet and very dry places.

The pennycress lays eggs at the base of lavender shoots. The larvae that hatch produce a foamy liquid similar to saliva. It is necessary for protection from enemies and from drying out. The larvae feed on the juices of the host plant, which greatly weakens it and reduces its decorativeness.

To remove slobber larvae, wash them off with a stream of water from a hose. Treatment with insecticides also helps.

Rainbow beetle (rosemary beetle)

This leaf beetle, 5-8 mm long, has a very beautiful color - longitudinal stripes of green and purple, shimmering with metal. It feeds on the leaves of lavender, rosemary, and less commonly, thyme, sage and perovskia. You can fight it only by mechanical collection.

Agalmatium biloba

Agalmatium is widespread in the south of Russia and specializes in essential oil crops. This insect, up to 6 mm long, lays pale yellow eggs in groups of 2-22 pieces on the shady side of lavender stems. Sticky eggs become covered with dust, masquerading as lumps of earth. The larvae, hatched from the eggs, feed on lavender leaves, forming spots and spots on them.

To protect against agalmatiums, plants are treated with insecticides.

Harvesting lavender

They begin to collect lavender when half of the flower stalks have blossomed. At this time, the aroma is strongest, and the color of the flowers is especially bright. Usually this is the end of June.

The collection is carried out late in the morning, in dry weather. It is better if the day is cool, then more essential oil will be preserved. For collection, use pruning shears or scissors. The collected inflorescences are laid out on paper or tied in small bouquets and hung on a rope with the flowers facing down. The drying room must be protected from direct sun rays and well ventilated.

Lavender in landscape design

Lavender - necessary element garden in Mediterranean style. Alpine coaster, rockeries, apothecary gardens, tubs on the patio, pots on the balcony - this elegant plant will be appropriate everywhere. Lavender bushes often border paths in gardens and parks, allowing you to immerse yourself in a cloud of their aroma while walking.

A classic combination is lavender with rose bushes. Joint plantings with plants that have yellow flowers. An ideal companion for young lavender bushes is Eschscholzia with its large, bright carrot-colored flowers. In a herb garden, lavender would be appropriate alongside rosemary, catnip, oregano and sage.

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