Planting and caring for lavender in open ground. Lavender - care in autumn, preparation for winter in the Moscow region

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.

IN Soviet time 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 as an ornamental crop, which, when 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, East 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 well-known representative kind of 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. Various varieties of this species are grown in culture, 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 silvery leaves with jagged edges and large purple flowers. 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 essential oil content in plants of this species is higher. 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 groundwater or stagnation of water during heavy rains or melting snow in the spring. Therefore, when landing, you need to choose a 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 soils must be limed until the pH reaches 6.5-7.5.

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 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 tolerate harsh conditions. 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; the appearance of the plant will only benefit from this.

Growing at home

Lavender can be successfully grown not only in open ground, but also indoors. 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 radiators. 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 have neither cuttings nor bushes at hand, then it is 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 of garden soil, 2 parts of humus and 1 part of washed river sand. It's also good to add perlite.

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

Lavender begins to bloom in the second year and blooms abundantly 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. The lower leaves are torn off, the cut is powdered with root and planted 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 is an essential element of a Mediterranean-style garden. Alpine slides, rock gardens, 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 are very effective. 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.

Video

The name of this plant comes from the Latin word lava, which means “to wash.”

And this is true, because first of all it was used for aromatic baths.

But in Lately, despite her difficult disposition, she is becoming more and more popular. And among English gardeners, lavender is a favorite plant

The history of the appearance of lavender in Russia begins in the 30s of the 18th century, when Peter I founded Botanical Garden In Petersburg. According to historians, “... in the 30s of the 18th century... among the collections of plants in this apothecary garden there were: chamomile, sage, mint, mustard, thyme, juniper, peonies, lavender, various bulbous plants, roses, etc.” However, the history of its cultivation in Russia is interrupted for almost a century.

And again we find mention of lavender in connection with the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. It is generally accepted that it was then that it was first brought to the Crimean peninsula.

Domestic pre-revolutionary manuals provide methods for making lavender sachets to repel moths and scent clothes. To do this, our great-grandmothers ground its flowers into powder, then sifted them well and placed them in small paper or silk bags. Industrial cultivation of this crop began only in the 30s of the 20th century in the USSR, and it remained small.

And now it can be increasingly found in our gardens. Easiest to deal with angustifolia lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and if you are just getting acquainted with this plant, start with it.

Where to plant lavender

When choosing a place in the garden, find the driest and sunniest area for lavender. It can also take root in the shade, but in this case you should not expect long and abundant flowering. Particular attention should be paid

pay attention to the humidity level of the pound, since the roots of the plant are very sensitive to excess moisture. Wetlands and areas where groundwater flow too high.

The plant's drought resistance is evidenced by its narrow, silvery, slightly pubescent leaves, designed to successfully withstand the long-term drought of the Mediterranean climate. In its homeland, lavender grows in spartan conditions, in light mixtures with a neutral acidity level. Therefore, it is not demanding on soil fertility and will grow successfully even on poor sandy or clayey substrates.

However, if you prepare the soil for it with the addition of humus, the flowering of the shrub will be more abundant.

Sowing lavender

If you want to propagate lavender, sow it (only if you have a species plant, not a variety). Its seeds require cold stratification, for which they are sown in small bowls in January and kept at a temperature of about +5 "C in the refrigerator.

You can soak the seeds overnight in warm water to increase their germination. After 2 - 4 weeks of stratification, they are sown in seedling containers with good drainage and covered with a bag to maintain moisture. Periodically, the top layer is sprayed with a spray bottle. Lavender seeds germinate in the light at an air temperature of +15...+ 22 °C. After the sprouts appear, the containers are transferred to the most sunny place and grown like ordinary seedlings, gradually accustoming them to fresh air. At the end of May, the finished bushes can be planted in the garden.

Cuttings from lavender

Lavender is quite easily propagated by cuttings. If you have an adult bush, at the beginning of July, cut cuttings from it 8 - 10 cm long. A prerequisite is that the cuttings should not bloom, since such branches do not produce roots. This is easy to determine; during this period, the flower stalks are already clearly visible among the greenery.

Stick the cut branches obliquely into the ground in a shady place under the film. After 3 - 4 weeks they will begin to grow - a sure sign that they have roots. Carefully dig up the rooted cuttings and transplant them to the chosen location. You can propagate lavender by rooting woody cuttings in the fall. Such shoots are simply stuck into the ground in September - October. And in the spring it is a ready-made bush, which usually blooms in July.

Using lavender in the garden

Lavender is an excellent plant for creating a border; it is good as part of a sunny mixborder. This “friendly” plant easily gets along with other crops; the main thing is to choose drought-resistant partners for it.

If you plan to use lavender not only as an ornamental plant, but also as a spice, plant it near the house, preferably on the south side, so the aroma will be stronger. It is better to collect flowers in full bloom and dry them in a well-ventilated, shaded place.

Fertilizing lavender

Lavender is responsive to fertilizing; in the spring it is recommended to apply complex fertilizers to adult bushes. mineral fertilizers at the rate of 10-15 g per plant. On peat and acidic areas Always add a little lime to the hole or wood ash to increase acidity levels. It is also useful to regularly add compost in the spring, which will ensure air permeability and nutritional value of the soil.

Varieties of lavender: photo

Growing lavender - planting and care: sharing experience

Growing lavender - benefits and care

In the spring of 2014, my wife and I bought several bushes of Crimean lavender at the market. You could say they were buying a “pig in a poke,” since there was no certainty that these were Crimean herbs. Now, 2 years later, there is no doubt left - this is the same lavender, and I remember with kind words the people who sold it to us.

Fragrant gifts

Just a few months after planting, we collected the first “harvest” of lavender - we cut off the young shoots. Fragrant seasoning turned out to be beyond praise - tea from this plant created a sensation. We brewed both pure lavender and green tea mixed, and combined with thyme and sage shoots. Guests invariably asked to brew tea with lavender and were very happy with small gifts in the form of lavender sprouts or cut shoots “for tea.”

Queen of the Garden

Lavender is native to the Mediterranean, where it grows wild. We, in the steppes, also have wild lavender. In total, more than 30 species of this plant are known.

I compared 4 varieties of lavender (I exchanged seedlings with friends, and bought another variety in the store), and the most fragrant of them turned out to be Crimean.

For me, lavender is now the queen of the garden. It easily propagates from last year's woody shoots or seeds. It winters in the conditions of Donetsk without problems - it does not freeze even without shelter, although we sometimes have frosts down to -25...-270.

My lavender blooms profusely from June until the end of July. If at this moment you cut off the shoots by half the growth, then at the end of summer - beginning of autumn the lavender will delight you with a second harvest and will bloom until the first frost. The color is different different varieties, some (more fragrant) have a rich, lilac-blue color, while others have a soft blue color.

More sun!

Lavender loves sunny places, but also grows well in the shade. Feels great on rocky and clay soils. It is unpretentious to watering, but if the watering and soil are good, it will reward you with the active growth of green shoots and abundant flowering.

Lavender looks very beautiful as a green fence. It is also suitable for decoration alpine slides and stone gardens.

For the winter, I always prune the lavender - to the woody shoots. If this is not done, over time the bush may lose its decorative form– the middle will become bare, and the side shoots, on the contrary, will grow.

Cut shoots can be dried for the winter and added to tea. Use to make essential oil. Lavender is good as a seasoning for meat and fish dishes; it helps improve digestion and stimulates appetite.

Only peace!

IN folk medicine Lavender-based teas and essential oils are used to treat headaches, various kinds neuroses, they help relieve nervous tension and reduce arterial pressure. But we must remember that tea with lavender has a mild hypnotic effect. Lavender can be packaged in fabric bags and placed on bedding to add a pleasant aroma.

Lavender tea.

This drink is used to treat viral infections. As a doctor, I can say that this is logical from the point of view of traditional medicine. Essential oils have an antiseptic effect, reduce inflammation, soothe nervous system– for herpetic infections this tea is even indicated. Lavender is also used to treat skin problems. The main components of lavender essential oil are linalool, borneol and geraniol. These polyhydric alcohols are used in cosmetology as part of cosmetic creams and medicinal antiseptic ointments.

Lavender baths.

The healing properties of lavender help relieve fatigue and have a beneficial effect on blood circulation. For 20 liters of warm water you need to take 50 g of dried lavender flowers or herbs.

Lavender tincture.

It is used to treat eczema and sunburn. Pour 30 g of fresh or dried flowers or shoots into 500 ml of any vegetable (preferably refined) oil and heat in a water bath for 1.5 hours. The resulting essential oil can be used regularly for 30 days.

Lavender oil with honey.

In 1 tsp. natural honey, add 2 drops of essential oil and take twice a day - morning and evening. You can also add honey to warm lavender tea and sip slowly. This remedy is good for colds.

However, all these remedies are not suitable for those who are allergic to lavender, as well as for women in the early stages of pregnancy.

Lavender or royal perfume

In design, lavender is widely used as a border because it is compact and tolerates cutting well, and also emits a pleasant aroma when touched while passing by.

OUR HELP

The genus Lavender (Lavandula) has about 30 species, distributed in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, North and East Africa, Arabia, and India. Lavender belongs to the large Lamiaceae family, which also includes a number of other well-known essential oil plants: mint, thyme, hyssop, rosemary.

English lavender

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, Lavandula officinalis) comes from Southern Europe. This is a subshrub with a powerful root that goes into the ground to a depth of 2 m. The shoots are numerous, 60-80 cm tall, woody in the lower part. The leaves are narrow, dense, greenish-gray due to dense pubescence, concentrated in the lower part of the stem. The flowers are small, bluish-lilac or blue, collected in 6-10 pieces in spike-shaped inflorescences on the tops of long, rigid stems. Flowering period: July-August. In conditions middle zone Russia winters with light shelter.

There are a number of garden forms and varieties that differ in plant height ( dwarf forms up to 30 cm in height) and flower color (white, pink, bright blue).

Peculiarities

French lavender smells pleasant, but quite strong.

But the English prude, although it contains less essential oil, compensates for all the shortcomings with its amazing aroma: strong, fresh, with sweet notes.

English lavender oil is considered more beneficial.

It is used to produce luxury soaps, perfumes, shampoos and other perfumes and cosmetics.

An alcoholic tincture of English lavender is used in medicine as an antiseptic.

Beneficial properties of lavender

English lavender became known to science in the 13th century. and from then until the end of the 18th century. it was grown everywhere, from monastery and royal gardens to flower gardens of townspeople.

The aromatic and disinfectant properties of the plant were valued above all.

The tradition of adding dried lavender flowers to some types of tea has survived to this day.

Dry bouquets are hung indoors, a mixture of inflorescences and flowers is placed in small wicker baskets or porcelain bowls and placed near a heat source to improve indoor air.

Bags of lavender inflorescences are placed in laundry for fragrance.

Modern research has confirmed many of the properties of lavender known to traditional medicine. Its oil has early healing and bactericidal properties, the aroma has a calming effect on the psyche. Lavender, like many other Lamiaceae, is an excellent honey plant.

French lavender

French lavender, or broadleaf lavender (Lavandula stoechas, = Lavandula latifolia), is found naturally in southwestern Europe. Subshrub 50-80 cm tall. The flowers are small, collected in apical spikelets. The plant sports wide, bright bracts, which are located at the top of the inflorescence and are colored the same color as the corollas.

There are a large number of varieties of French lavender with a wide variety of colors of petals and bracts. In addition to the natural blue-violet color, they can be white, greenish, yellowish, pink, and burgundy.

This species blooms in April-May. The flowering period lasts until June, and may occur again in the fall.

French lavender is more thermophilic. In the south of France, there are extensive plantations where lavender is grown for its essential oil. It is widely used in the perfumery and cosmetics industry, medicine, and to produce special varnish for painting porcelain. Like English, French lavender has a number of varieties.

Garden hybrids

Hybrid lavender, or Dutch lavender (Lavandula x intermedia, = Lavandula Vera) - under this name they combine garden hybrids English lavender with other uzkolistnye species. It is distinguished by larger flowers and a slightly later flowering period compared to English lavender. Not winter-resistant.

Legacy of the Romans

The history of lavender goes back much further than the early Middle Ages. This plant was known back in Ancient Rome, including as decorative.

With the expansion of the Roman Empire, lavender spread throughout Europe, even reaching the British Isles.

She thrived in the mild climate of Albion and became very popular back in the Middle Ages. Lavender water was used as perfume; during the plague, glovers scented their products with lavender oil to ward off infection.

Royal whim

Loved it very much fragrant plant English Queen Elizabeth I, on whose table there were always lavender sweets, and her room all year round decorated with fresh flowers. The royal whim served as a kind of challenge to English gardeners, who successfully coped with the task, at the same time learning to manage the flowering times of a wide variety of plants.

Another English queen, Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I, had long rows of rare white lavender in her gardens. Queen Victoria, the greatest lover of lavender among English monarchs, retained a lifelong affection for aromatic plant, bouquets of which Prince Albert gave her as a gift when he was still her fiancé...

Tips from our readers

Lavender is a plant of depleted soils, so when growing it, do not overuse fertilizers, especially nitrogen ones. Lavender only needs special watering during the rooting period.

Lavender requires a warm, sunny corner, protected from the wind. For the winter, a light shelter made of spruce paws. The more heat-loving French lavender in central Russia can be grown as a container crop, brought into a cold greenhouse for the winter.

L. Ishchenko, Liski

Lavender grows well in containers, but, having a deep root system, requires large pots with a diameter of 30-40 cm.

Drainage is placed at the bottom, then nutritious compost with an alkaline reaction.

Container plants need regular watering.

Lavender – spectacular plant, giving the garden a Mediterranean flavor. But its main advantage is its valuable essential oil. The most fragrant part of lavender is the grayish calyx of the flower, which, like the leaves, is covered with dense hairs.

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The world of flora is surprisingly diverse and variable. It combines with amazing organicity a variety of plants and many varieties of even the same crops. Lavender, which is represented by three dozen species, deserves special attention. In nature this bright bush can be found in Australia, India, the Canary Islands, Arabia, southern Europe, North and East Africa. Simple planting and care of lavender makes it very attractive to a huge number of gardeners.

French type of lavender

French lavender is no less common in the garden: planting and caring for this crop is not particularly difficult. However, it is worth considering that compared to the previous version, this variety is more finicky and capricious. Visually, the broad-leaved group is practically no different from the English variety. But often its inflorescences are somewhat shorter.

Most often, it is French lavender that is grown on the balcony: planting and caring for this potted crop has certain characteristics, but in general there are no problems here. The plant is characterized by amazingly beautiful flowers. The range of their shades is amazingly wide and includes such colors as:

• pink;
• lilac;
• green;
• burgundy;
• purple;
• white.

The attractiveness of this variety lies in the fact that it begins to bloom much earlier than its other “relatives”. Already in April and May, this lavender begins to smell fragrant. In the summer you can take the plant out into the garden.

Features of the narrow-leaved variety

It is impossible not to make a reservation that there is lavender Angustifolia (Lavandulaangustifolia). This is a narrow-leaved variant, which is essentially a perennial evergreen subshrub. The flower is quite unpretentious. It is frost-resistant, which allows it to be actively grown in different regions. Moreover, this option can be cultivated in pots or tubs, which are removed indoors for the winter. For flower growers, this lavender is of particular value.

Among other features of this culture, it is worth noting the absence of a central stem. The bush is represented by a combination of several shoots. Sometimes their number reaches 400. Angustifolia lavender has a lot of features: planting and caring for this plant is also characterized by a number of nuances. The root system of the flower is superficial. It is located very close to the top of the ground. It can be called highly branched, dense and quite rough. The leaf blades of this group of lavender are elongated and narrow. They are a rich green hue. The edges of the leaves are slightly bent.

Lavender Munstead

Original Munstead Lavender is another representative of this group. This variety is considered narrow-leaved. This crop blooms in July and August. The perennial, formed in the form of a subshrub, is distinguished by the presence of fibrous and woody roots, numerous shoots, linear and opposite leaves. The shade of the plates is greenish-silver with gray tints. Plus they have a gentle and light pubescence. The height of the grass reaches 60 cm. This crop produces blue or bluish-lilac buds, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences.

Lavender Southern

This group also includes other varieties, for example, lavender angustifolia Yuzhanka, which requires the creation of certain conditions for successful cultivation. As for the description of the culture, this variety is distinguished by its small height. Usually the perennial does not grow higher than 60 cm.

The attractiveness of the plant lies in the fact that it exudes a refined aroma.

Lavender Yuzhanka is very popular: planting and caring for this plant has a number of features. So, it is recommended to plant grass in sunny areas that are well protected from winds and drafts. The flower prefers light soils. But the main requirement of Yuzhanka comes down to receiving a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation. In order for the variety to actively develop and bloom, the daylight hours must be at least 6 hours.

Southern lavender is not the only one included in the group of narrow-leaved varieties. Among other representatives of this species, it is worth noting the following varieties:

1. Ellagance;
2. Rosea;
3. Munsted;
4. Hidcote;
5. Stepnaya;
6. Alba;
7. Record, etc.

Lavender Voznesenskaya 34

Among other plants of this species, lavender angustifolia Voznesenskaya 34 deserves attention, since it is widely used in folk medicine. The plant allows you to lift your spirits and relieve emotional overload. This fragrant perennial has honey-bearing and spicy-aromatic properties. The flower is medicinal, as evidenced by its antispasmodic and antiseptic properties. The variety, represented by a spherical bush with lilac-violet inflorescences, is used for medicinal baths, improving appetite, and for neuralgia and bronchitis.

Variety of varieties and the most beautiful options

It is worth understanding the variability of this plant and the characteristics of its different varieties. The Blue Space lavender deserves special attention, because it is not only attractive appearance, but also has healing properties.
This is a herbaceous plant classified as a perennial. The height of these flowers varies from 30 to 35 cm. Their stems are branched. The attractiveness of this type is that it is suitable for:

• cuttings for summer bouquets;
• designing winter flower arrangements;
• decorating areas.

Plus Blue Space is an excellent natural antiseptic. The herb is prescribed for neurasthenia and headaches. This type of lavender is grown from seeds: planting and caring for the flower are standard.

Lavender Butterfly and Victory

Another common solution is Butterfly lavender, which is known to gardeners for its original appearance. Fragrant flowers visually resemble butterflies. The height of this subshrub is 30 cm. This plant begins to bloom very early. Already in mid-April, buds are formed, which persist until July, and in the second half of summer a second flowering may begin.

Another popular solution is Victory lavender, an essential oil perennial. It can grow up to 1 meter. The bush is quite spreading. Lanceolate-type leaf plates are formed on it. Their grayish tint goes well with unusual inflorescences in the purple spectrum. The attractiveness of this variety lies in its rich and fairly persistent aroma. Plus Victory is not afraid of frost and drought.

Lavender Delight

Uslada lavender deserves special attention, as it has some attractive features. This is a fragrant and very beautiful evergreen plant. The perennial grows up to 60 cm in height. This is a subshrub, which by its nature is a wonderful honey plant. The bush itself is compact and highly branched. The plant blooms in late July.

The flower feels best in sunny and fairly dry areas. Lavender is planted with seeds: growing and caring for this variety is based on the basic requirements of the culture. This type of lavender can be used as:

1. soothing composition;
2. seasoning;
3. moth repellent;
4. element of perfume composition;
5. choleretic drug;
6. remedy for neuralgia and rheumatic pain.

Lavender Mini Blue and Hidcote

Another option is Mini Blue lavender with blue inflorescences. The height of the bush does not exceed 30 cm. The perennial subshrub is distinguished by the presence of linear and opposite leaves. This plant is grown in fresh and dry soil. The soil should be sandy-clayey, gravel and well permeable to moisture. It’s great if the substrate contains lime and nutrients in moderation. Grass grows and develops well in warm, sunny and even hot places. But this variety is quite sensitive to frost.

Another variety is Hidcote lavender: planting and caring for this narrow-leaved option is essentially no different from cultivating other similar herbs. Hidcote Blue performs compact variety. This perennial is grown as a framing element. herbal compositions. It looks no less elegant and elegant along the paths. The attractiveness of this variety lies in its unique decorative properties. Even Hidcot's leaf blades have a greenish-silver tint. Bluish inflorescences form in mid-summer and dilute the rich aroma.

Some features of growing lavender

Any perennial lavender can be grown quite simply: planting and caring for it is not anything extremely complicated, the main thing is to plant the plant correctly.

This process is quite responsible. It is better not to move adult individuals from place to place, since they tolerate changing areas extremely poorly. If you have to do this, then you should replant the grass with a large earthen clod. It is recommended to leave quite a lot of space between neighboring plants, and the interval should be approximately equal. This will allow you to achieve a full and slender fit.

Planting lavender on the site

Among other features of this process, it is worth noting the possibility of planting crops not only with seeds, but also with cuttings. Moreover, the second option is preferable, since in this case the flowers take root better. The algorithm for doing the job is extremely simple. The bushes only need to be deepened into loose soil a couple of centimeters. Then they are covered with film. They need to be watered systematically. Rooted specimens are transplanted to the required area.

Soil requirements

Garden lavender is not difficult to cultivate: planting and caring for it involves watering, fertilizing, loosening, and weeding. The flower does not like dense soils, since the root system of the plant is demanding of high-quality air circulation. Weeding and loosening should be done regularly. You can also form a dense layer of mulch. To do this, use multi-colored decorative substrates or rotted foliage. The main thing is to leave the soil open near the base of the trunk to prevent rotting.

Rules for watering lavender

Lavender is a beautifully flowering perennial plant native to the Mediterranean countries; its cultivated forms are successfully grown throughout the world. A bright purple flower with a delightful aroma will serve as a wonderful decoration for borders, rockeries or alpine slides. The plant looks most impressive against the backdrop of rocky terrain. How to grow lavender in a warm temperate climate? Correct fit and regular care will help you get a beautiful and vibrant flower garden.

Choosing a site for growing lavender

The plant is heat-loving, so it prefers open, sunny meadows, protected from cold winds. Lavender will take root well in partial shade, but the color of the petals will be noticeably paler, and the flowering will not be as abundant and long-lasting. You can place a flower bed along the walls of the house or among boulders, so the flowers will receive more warmth and will grow more readily.

The composition of the soil needs to be given special attention. The soil should be well-drained and light; stagnation of moisture in the roots can be detrimental to the plant. For this reason, some gardeners plant lavender at some elevation, building a mound and lining it on the sides with cobblestones or decorative borders. This technique is often used if groundwater is located too close to the surface.

How to grow lavender in your summer cottage? Soil acidity is of particular importance; it can be determined using a special test. Optimal indicator- from 6.7 to 7.3 pH. If the substrate is too acidic, then lime can be added when digging the ridges, and lime gravel can be used as drainage.

Planting lavender in the garden

The plant is propagated in three ways:

• sowing seeds,
• rooting cuttings,
• rooting of cuttings.

Growing lavender from seeds is a troublesome and time-consuming task, so novice gardeners are advised to purchase seedlings from a specialized store or nursery. When purchasing a plant, it is important to know that lavender prefers a warm climate; you should choose a variety that is winter-hardy and less demanding of the conditions.

Lavender - how to grow beautiful bush from a small seedling? First you need to dig landing hole, its size should be twice as large as the volume of the root system or earthen coma. Planting should be done in the spring, when the soil is sufficiently warm and the threat of frost has passed. Most often, gardeners choose the first half of May for this. To ensure good drainage, large pebbles, expanded clay, and pieces of foam are placed at the bottom of the pit.

Before removing the seedling from the shipping container, the soil is well moistened and the plant is left in a damp substrate for 50-60 minutes. Then, the pot is placed on its side and, tapping on the walls, the roots are carefully removed along with the soil. It is recommended to clean the roots from the soil, inspect them and, if necessary, remove dried and rotten fragments. Before planting, the stems of the plant are cut, but not more than ¼ of their length. This procedure stimulates the growth of new shoots and ensures good air circulation, preventing the appearance of fungal diseases.

Having completed the preparatory stage, you can begin planting. Drainage layer sprinkle with a small amount of soil and only then place the roots of the plant. Next, the seedling is sprinkled on all sides with garden soil, carefully compacting it. If several specimens are planted on a site, then a distance of 90 cm should remain between them.

Features of lavender care

Knowing how to grow lavender, a gardener must take good care of the plant. Only in this case will lavender reward its owner with lush blooms.

Watering and fertilizing

The plant does not need abundant watering; on the contrary, it can destroy the flower. If the summer is moderately warm and it rains regularly, then there is no need to moisten the soil. In dry weather, you need to control the level of soil moisture. Complete drying of the top layer is acceptable, as long as the plant does not look drooping and withering.

Excessive watering can cause lavender bushes to stop growing, especially in the first year of life.

It is recommended to regularly weed and loosen the soil. To make your work easier, you can cover the flowerbed with a thin layer of mulch, for example, decorative wood chips. She'll slow down weeds, will protect the soil from temperature changes, and, in addition, will organically fit into the natural landscape.

Exquisite lavender - how to grow a bush with bright greenery and beautiful flowers? In this case, the gardener cannot do without a complex of fertilizers. It is enough to fertilize only twice a season: in early spring and in mid-July. Suitable for the first feeding cow dung, mixed with bone meal, then you can use a liquid solution of minerals to grow flowers in open ground.

Pruning lavender bushes

Bush pruning is carried out annually in the spring. Professionals advise giving the bushes a ball shape; for this, the branches can be shortened by 1/3. Radical pruning can destroy the plant, so you need to act carefully and slowly. It is better to use a small pruning shear or sharply sharpened garden shears as a tool. A timely and, most importantly, correctly carried out procedure stimulates the growth of new shoots and has a beneficial effect on flowering.

During the first 2 years, you should not hesitate to remove emerging inflorescences; at the initial stage, it is important to obtain a strong and healthy plant, with a well-developed root system.

Preparing lavender bushes for winter

Knowing how to grow lavender, all that remains is to protect it from the winter cold. Experts claim that the plant can withstand frosts down to -25 °C. However, if the winter is expected to be cold and with little snow, it is necessary to take care of shelter. After the leaves fall, the flower garden area is cleared, the garbage is raked into a heap, and the lavender branches are shortened a little. Then fir branches are laid on the bed, and as soon as snow falls, a snowdrift is formed. Dry foliage cannot be used as a covering material; in such conditions the plant may rot.

How to cut flowers for a bouquet?

Lavender is an incredibly beautiful flower with spikelet-shaped inflorescences. A vase of cut flowers can decorate any interior and fill the room with a delightful aroma.

It is best to cut lavender for a bouquet when the lower flowers have just begun to open. The stem is cut with a sharp knife at the very base, not far from the foliage. If there is a need to dry the plant, then the extracted bushes are tied with a rope and hung in a dry, ventilated room with their tops down. A darkened attic is best suited for this. After 10–12 days, the plants will dry out and can be removed.

Lavender diseases

Even knowing how to grow lavender, some inexperienced gardeners make mistakes and over-moisten the soil on which the flower garden is located. As a result, the plant begins to suffer from a dangerous fungal disease - root rot. It is not immediately possible to recognize the disease, when the plant becomes noticeably paler and looks drooping; the root system, as a rule, is already severely affected. You can try to save the plant with the help of chemicals (fungicides), but much more easier disease prevent rather than cure.

Video on how to plant lavender

Growing lavender in open ground

Lavender, of which there are dozens of varieties, is a perennial decorative shrub. It is a popular plant for landscape decoration in European countries, especially in Italy and France. To bring a beautiful part of Provence to your dacha, you can plant the crop as an edging of a garden path or a small flower bed.

Growing lavender (lat. Lavandula) on your own plot is quite possible even for a novice gardener, and a flowerbed or mixborder made of various varieties will create an amazing play of lilac and purple shades on your site.

Choosing a location and preparing the soil for lavender

Choosing a suitable planting site for lavender is the key to the successful development of the plant and its lush flowering. Lavender loves the sun very much, so to create a flower bed you should choose a place not shaded by trees and buildings.

Soil preparation

The culture is not demanding in terms of mineral content, but does not like wet and heavy soil. The composition of light sandstones or sandstones is suitable. If the soil is heavy, when preparing to plant lavender, it is mixed with river sand 1 to 1.

If the groundwater in the area lies close to the surface, you need to organize a drainage layer of expanded clay, broken brick and sand to drain the water. When preparing a flower bed, it is important to take into account the acidity of the soil - the recommended pH is 6.5 to 8. If there is a discrepancy, you can add ash or a little lime, which are good deoxidizing agents.

The best lavender varieties for planting

There are two large groups of lavender varieties: French and English.

French lavender (lat. Lavandula stoechas) is a capricious, delicate plant with wide green leaves and shortened inflorescences. It is applied for home grown in pots. Temperatures below minus 15 degrees Celsius can kill it.

English lavender has become widespread among gardeners; planting and care in the Moscow region and central Russia is possible in open ground. English lavender (lat. Lavandula angustifolia) is known by other names: angustifolia lavender, medicinal lavender, true lavender. It is distinguished by long spikelets of inflorescences and narrow leaves. The following varieties of angustifolia lavender are popular among gardeners: Munstead, Hidcote Giant, Alba, Ellegance Sky.

Propagation of lavender and planting in open ground

When planting an adult lavender bush in open ground, you should take into account that the plant does not tolerate transplantation well. Before replanting, the plant should be watered abundantly to make it easier to remove the lump of earth from the pot without damaging the root system. It is recommended to plant plants at a distance of at least half a meter.

The plant reproduces well by layering and cuttings, which are planted at the same distance, without deepening the root collar. After planting in open ground with cuttings or layering, be sure to create greenhouse conditions by covering with film and regularly moistening the soil.

When propagated by seeds, lavender seedlings are planted in May - early June. Other methods of propagation (layering, cuttings, dividing the bush) are carried out in two stages - preparation and planting. In this case, planting in a permanent place is carried out in the second half of summer and autumn.

An affordable and easy way to obtain seedling material for large quantity bushes is the propagation of lavender by cuttings. At the beginning of summer, stems 8-10 cm in size are cut, which are then rooted in water or soil prepared from a mixture of peat and sand.

In greenhouse conditions, rooting occurs faster, and within a month the seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent location. Young bushes bloom in the first year, but it is advisable to remove the inflorescences so that the plant has time to grow as much as possible over the summer more green mass and did not waste energy on the formation of flowers.

Reproduction of lavender by layering

The good thing about the method of propagating lavender by layering is that there is no need to injure the bush by digging up and damaging its root system. For layering, choose a young flexible branch growing from the edge of the bush, near which you need to dig a shallow furrow.

The branch is tilted away from the plant by 15-20 cm and bent so that its main part fits into the furrow, and its end with leaves and flowers remains above ground level. To prevent the branch from springing, it is fixed with a wire pin or a stone, then the part of the branch buried in the soil is covered with earth.

You can dig up a daughter plant only after it has young shoots and it is best to do this in cool weather in early autumn.

Propagation of lavender by dividing the bush

Preparing the bush for division begins in the fall, and the procedure itself is performed a year after that. The lavender bush is trimmed to a height of 10 cm and hilled, with soil poured between the stems.

Next spring and throughout the summer, the plant will produce numerous shoots around the bush. In autumn, the plant is dug up and divided using sharp instrument- shovels or a scoop, after which the sections are treated with garden varnish or sprinkled with crushed coal. Prepared seedlings are planted on permanent places.

Growing lavender from seeds at home

Lavender, which is propagated by seeds, is quite capricious when grown. This method is rarely chosen for preparation planting material, since seedlings grown from seeds will bloom only a year after planting.

Before sowing, lavender seeds must be stratified. This can be done at home by placing the seeds in artificial cold, or in the fall you can sow the seeds in the ground. But unstable low temperatures V natural conditions can destroy the seeds, so it is better to use the first method.

To stratify at home, seeds are mixed with fine dry sand and poured into a container or cup. Next, the container is placed in a plastic bag and placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for 40-45 days. After this, the seeds along with sand are sown in a seedling box or greenhouse.

After undergoing the stratification procedure, lavender, which has been grown from seeds at home, can be sown in open ground under a film, in a seedling box or greenhouse.

Sowing in open ground is possible only in spring, at a constant air temperature of plus 20 degrees Celsius, otherwise the plant will not have time to develop sufficiently and will freeze with the onset of winter, despite the shelter.

Growing lavender in open ground

Lavender, planted according to all the rules, in prepared soil and in a sunny place, does not require care. It is important to control soil moisture to prevent waterlogging and ensure good drainage.

Watering lavender

Watering should be moderate: lavender tolerates drought well, but does not tolerate waterlogging and waterlogging. Therefore, the flowerbed should be watered only when the soil dries out, but under no circumstances should it be flooded. 5 liters of water is enough for an adult bush in 1-2 dry weeks. After flowering, lavender is not watered at all.

Mulching the soil

Mulching for lavender is undesirable, since mulch helps retain moisture in the soil and prevents the plant's roots from breathing. Therefore, when creating decorative fills or a mulch layer, it is necessary to leave open ground around the bush and loosen it 1-2 times during the summer, ensuring access of oxygen to the roots of the plant.

Fertilizing lavender with fertilizers

Lavender, which is grown in open ground, requires feeding in two stages. In spring, the bushes are watered with the following composition: 1 tbsp. a spoonful of urea is dissolved in 10 liters of water, this portion is enough for two adult plants (5-6 liters per bush).

At the beginning of the flowering period, fertilize with Agricola or Agricola - fantasy fertilizer. They are diluted in a proportion of 2 tbsp. spoons per 10 liters of water, consumption for each bush is 3-4 liters of the mixture.

Pest protection

Lavender in the garden, planting and care in Russia

Caring for lavender in central Russia and colder climate zones consists of timely pruning and protecting the plant from freezing. The procedure is necessary to maintain the neat shape of the bush. If pruning is not carried out, the lower part of the stems becomes bare, and the plant takes on a gnarled, unkempt appearance. Bare stems freeze easily at low temperatures or strong winds.

In the south of Russia, shoots can be shortened in the fall by removing peduncles and the top two pairs of leaves. In more severe winter conditions, it is better to postpone pruning until spring - this way the plant will be reliably protected from the cold by a snow cap and the root system will not freeze.

You can additionally insulate the bush for the winter with spruce or pine branches. Covering with fallen leaves or compost is not recommended, as the plant may rot.

Growing lavender at home

Currently, it is very fashionable to decorate terraces, halls and living spaces with plants in outdoor pots and flowerpots. Lavender may well decorate your interior; caring for it at home involves following the growing rules.

Growing conditions

The container for planting lavender must have a volume of at least 5 liters. Since lavender perennial, it must be provided with a sufficient volume of soil for growth and development. At the bottom of the pot, it is necessary to create a drainage layer of expanded clay with a thickness of at least ¼ of the height of the pot.

Lavender, planting and caring for it at home differs from open ground, requires additional preparation of the land before planting. Sand, peat and shells are added to the soil to obtain a light, breathable and nutritious composition for the roots of the plant.

The pot of lavender should be in the brightest place. If there is a shortage sunlight can be used artificial lighting. Watering lavender should occur no more than once a week with warm, settled water - 0.5 liters per bush.

If lavender is grown at home, winter time she needs sanitary pruning. In this case, you need to remove dry and broken branches, trim the crown without changing its shape. The plant should be moved to a cool, bright room, away from heating devices.

Transplantation into open ground

Lavender should be transplanted from open ground into a pot in early spring or late autumn. You can replant the plant from a pot into open ground throughout the entire gardening season, carefully preserving the earthen ball.

At home, the plant will require more attention and best composition soil than growing lavender in open ground. However, this method significantly expands the geography of plant cultivation. Lavender is grown in flowerpots or pots in the Urals and Siberia, planting and caring for which requires a consistently warm and long summer. Since when diluted in containers, they can be quickly removed indoors in case of frost.

How to properly prepare and dry lavender

Lavender is pruned when its spikelets have half bloomed and withered. The largest amount of essential oils is found in the calyxes of flowers that remain on the stem after flowering.

The tops of the stems, 15-20 cm long, are tied into small bouquets and hung down with inflorescences in a dark, dry place - in the pantry, in the attic. After 3-4 weeks, dried bouquets can be folded into linen bags and stored, for example, in a linen closet. Such storage has its advantages: lavender will repel moths and give the linen a unique aroma field herbs and will be perfectly preserved for future use.

Lavender is medicinal plant, therefore, cut stems with flowers are preserved and used for various purposes. They can be added to baths for wound healing, treatment skin diseases and adding freshness. The anti-stress effect of lavender essential oils is also known, for the manifestation of which fragrant bags made of loose fabric filled with lavender are placed at the head of the bed while sleeping.

In France, Italy and Spain, lavender is used as a seasoning, adding it to dishes and sauces, as well as drinks.

Bottom line

Lavender is refined and graceful flower, noticeable in any mixborder. Plants look best when planted in strips along paths or terraces. The efforts put into growing it will be rewarded with lush lilac, purple or bright blue caps of flowers that exude a delicate aroma.