Lavendar, Long Life? Short Life?
Forum Archives
cjmiller
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Mar-21-2007 at 2:31pm
It is hard to determine when it is time to remove and replace or give it another year? What is the normal life span of a Munstead Lavendar--does it make a diffrence about the variety? I see neat hedges of lavender and ask why won't mine act like that! The pruning book I use for information for perenial care is the one by Tracy DiSabato-Aust, and it says not to cut back into the old wood. However, the old wood has grown forward over the edge of the wall and the new growth is extending into the pathway. Actual measurment tells me that it is 4 feet deep by 5 ft wide, if I trim it back by 50 % it will still be hogging too much space. I am guessing that it is past prime and maybe it is time to replace it, or is that just the-mean-gardener-with-the-new-saw talking?
Carol
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Mar-21-2007 at 3:30pm
They can keep on growing for years and years and years. But if you want that fresh newness you like, you will want to replace them when they get too woody.
Screaming Eagle
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Mar-22-2007 at 10:46am
I'm having the same problem Carol, but my problem is I'm just too nice I know I should yank mine out and replant but it's so hard to do when a plant is basically healthy just a little homely. I keep thinking I'll give them one more year...
cjmiller
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Mar-22-2007 at 2:57pm
Ordinarily, I would have never minded about its penchant for over-growth, but it means my granddaughter steps around it off the path and into another flower bed, and her middle name is Grace, which she isnt. What do I want most? I am still vascillating. It is already misshapen, so maybe I will trim it flat on one side--I have loved lots of ugly plants in my life--loyalty, or stupidity, or oddity, they all have some kind of charm.
Yes, you have proposed an acceptable alternative--let it live another year before decapitation.
Carol
Rainforest
Location: Washington, Olympic Peninsula
Posted: Mar-22-2007 at 8:52pm
Generally, once it begins to get ragged; you take cuttings and start new plants. Treat it the same as sage; keep it neat as long as you can; then yank it.
cjmiller
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Mar-23-2007 at 9:16am
Brilliant, Dave! That also identifies the needs of my old, kinda ugly sage,too! When it comes to plants, I suffer from low calcium in the backbone.
Carol
Fern
Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills
Posted: Mar-25-2007 at 7:37am
I thought I posted about this sometime awhile ago, but I can't find it. I have the same problem. I planted some replacement lavenders close to the old ones, and I planned to get rid of the old ones the next year, but I couldn't do it and I let the old ones live a couple of more years after that. Last summer I finally cut an old one back, leaving one slanting, twisted branch, in an attempt to see if it would have a nice windswept, bonsai kind of look. I'm still not sure if I like it, but I'll keep looking at it and it would be easy to cut it down and finish the job if I decide to. At least there's light now for the new one and the other plants I have since planted there. More room for new plants, how bad can that be?
I believe lavenders do get old looking no matter what you do, even if you prune them well every year, at least in my area. One of the big causes of flattened lavenders in my garden is heavy snow, as well as the fact I treat it like the other perennials and it gets softer growth than would be best. Still, I must have this plant, and these shortcomings aren't big compared to the enjoyment I get from them. Fern
cjmiller
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Mar-25-2007 at 10:04am
Yes, I thought someone had written a clear dissertation on lavender care, but couldnt find it either. It is too wet right now to get excited about "trimming in the rain" however, "Some day my clips will come". Aarghhh... play musty for me!
Carol
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Mar-26-2007 at 11:43am
Fern, could this be the thread, Favorite lavenders you are looking for?
I found it by doing a forum search with key word "lavender" under your name as poster.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton