Lavender

Host: Gary Bachman, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist

Transcription:

Lavender is relaxing and also a great landscape ornamental plant today on Southern Gardening.

Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

There are four species of lavender commonly grown in the garden; but in Mississippi, for the best success, grow Spanish Lavender. Spanish lavender grows two feet tall and wide and has fat purple flower buds with spiral petals. The other lavenders—Lavendon, English, and French—don’t like our high humidity. Lavender grows great and hot and dry conditions. So, in Mississippi, gardeners have a challenge. Modification of the soil environment is required, and soil drainage is a must. This is where using raised beds are a good choice. Amend the soil with grip, pea gravel, or oyster shells to make the soil gravelly. Oyster shells will help to keep the soil alkaline and help your lavender thrive. 

Containers also work well. Use a good draining potting media with plenty of alkylate, parklike, and pea gravel. Apply a good three to four month slow release fertilizer a couple of times during the year. After the lavender blooms, prune back the stems to shape the plant and prevent the center from opening up. 

Harvest the fresh cut flowers just as the buds start to open. For dried lavender, cut just before the first flowers open and bundle twenty stems per bundle. Hang upside down out of the sun with plenty of air circulation. They’ll soon be ready to pauperess and sashays. So, after a day of working in the garden, sit back and enjoy the fresh and relaxing fragrance of freshly picked lavender

I am Horticulturist Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.

Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.