Heaven scent
LAVENDER LOOKS BEAUTIFUL AND SMELLS DIVINE – NO GARDEN SHOULD BE WITHOUT SOME OF IT
ONE plant that is essential in any garden is lavender. Whether you own a tiny cottage garden or have stately, formal grounds, lavender will fit in beautifully. Not only does it make great bed and border edging but it also scents the air when you brush against it.
Your only problem will be deciding which of the many varieties to choose from.
Having tried all sorts over the years, I have to express a preference for ‘Hidcote’, which has rich purple flowers and a compact habit.
Don’t make the mistake of confusing it with ‘Hidcote Giant’, which has much longer stems that twist, topple and sprawl all over the place.
‘Munstead’ is a suitable alternative and, like ‘Hidcote’, it is hardy enough to come through our winters. The same cannot always be said for French lavenders, with their brightly coloured ears at the top of the flower spikes.
Try them only if you have a warm, sheltered spot and be prepared to lose them in a hard winter. Their foliage has an aroma of mentholyptus sweets.
To prolong the life of your lavender plants, trim them every summer just as the flowers are beginning to fade.
Go over them this month with shears but don’t cut back too hard into old wood. Snip back into relatively new growth, a couple of inches behind the flower, and you can keep them shapely and rejuvenated.
The ideal growing conditions for these Mediterranean plants is well-drained soil and bright sunshine. Because of that they can sit and sulk in our soggy winters.
As border edging, plant them 12in to 18in apart, about a foot back from the edge of the lawn. Then every time you brush past you can enjoy a wonderful aroma that reminds you of sunny Mediterranean holidays.