Planting lavender in French Provence is a great way to bring a recognizable scent into the air. Lavender needs full sun and well-drained soil, so it’s important to understand the climate and soil conditions in the area you’re planting it in.
To get started, choose a spot with good drainage, full sun, and ideally a protection from strong winds and cold drafts. Then prepare the soil with a spading fork and some compost or a general-purpose fertilizer.
Once the soil is ready, dig holes that are slightly larger than the roots of your lavender plants, space them 1.5-2 feet apart and give them enough water to settle the soil around their roots and eliminate air pockets.
Plant your lavender at the same depth as the pots they came in. After all your plants are in the ground, water them once more and mulch around the base of each one to protect them, hold moisture, and keep weeds down.
As the lavender grows, you can prune it in summer to maintain a bushy shape and encourage new growth. And voilà, you now have a fragrant lavender border in your French Provence garden.
Where is the best place to plant French lavender?
The best place to plant French lavender is in an area that receives full sun exposure and has well-draining soil. Planting French lavender in a sheltered spot close to a south-facing wall or fence can help to maintain a consistently warm temperature for the plant.
Additionally, the soil should be amended with compost or even sand for better drainage. Depending on the landscape, it can also be beneficial to mulch the area around the plant to help retain moisture and protect the roots.
Lastly, pick a spot with plenty of airflow and some protection from strong winds to maintain a healthy crop.
How much sun does Provence lavender need?
Provence lavender needs full sun, which means at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun per day. Lavender is a sun-loving plant, and it will thrive and produce essential oils best when it is in an area that receives a lot of sunlight on a regular basis.
In order to determine how much sun your plants will receive, you should keep track of the daily patterns of the sun in the area that you will be planting the lavender in. Ideally, you want to make sure that the part of the garden the lavender will be planted in will be in full sun for most of the day.
Lavender also does better with good air circulation, so make sure to properly space any lavender you plant with adequate room around each plant.
Does Provence lavender come back every year?
Yes, Provence lavender is a perennial plant. It usually lives up to 10 years and is fast growing, so it will come back annually if taken care of properly. It requires full sun and well-drained soil, so it would be best to provide those conditions to ensure a successful blooming season every year.
Furthermore, it should be watered regularly during dry spells. If the lavender starts to look dry, wilted and without flowers, then it may need more water or fertilizer. Additionally, deadheading any faded flowers will also help to promote new buds and keep the plant looking its best.
Its best to prune the plants in the early spring or after flowering to shape them up and prevent the stems from becoming woody. Provence lavender is a beautiful plant and with proper care and maintenance, it will come back every year!.
Can you leave lavender plant outside?
Yes, it is possible to leave lavender plants outside. Lavender is a very hardy perennial, so it can tolerate cold temperatures, making it a great choice for outdoor gardening. This plant thrives in sunny and dry areas and can withstand temperatures as low as -10-15 degrees celsius.
To ensure that a lavender plant thrives outside, it should be planted in a sunny spot with well-drained soil and be given plenty of water during the summer months. It can also be beneficial to provide a winter covering, such as a layer of mulch or a row cover, to protect the lavender from cold temperatures and snowy conditions.
Furthermore, you can trim the plant regularly, which helps to keep it healthy and free from disease. With the correct care and attention, lavender plants will produce beautiful blooms and a wonderful aroma for years to come.
What can you not plant with lavender?
You should avoid planting lavender with other strongly scented plants as the aroma of the lavender can be overwhelmed. Some plants known for their strong scents include marigold, snapdragon, mint, rosemary, and dill.
In addition, lavender prefers well-drained, slightly alkaline soil and the soil pH should be kept around 7.0 to 8.5. As such, it should not be planted with plants which prefer acidic soils like azaleas, rhododendrons, or blueberries.
Plants with similar water and soil requirements, such as rosemary and sage, are good companions for lavender as they can be planted in the same area without competing for resources.
Is French Lavender annual or perennial?
French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is a semi-evergreen, low-growing subshrub that is considered a short-lived perennial. Although it can survive for several years in mild climates, it typically acts as an annual in colder climates, dying back to the ground each winter.
French Lavender generally lives for 2-3 years, but with the proper care it may live longer. In regions where temperatures rarely drop below freezing, French Lavender can remain evergreen and offer durable performance for several years.
How long does it take for lavender to spread?
The amount of time it takes for lavender to spread depends on several different factors, including the type of lavender planted, the environment, pests, and the maintenance of the lavender plants. The size and vigor of the lavender also plays a role in how quickly it will spread.
For example, English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, grows slowly, but spreads quickly from lateral shoots, and can reach a spread of 5 to 6 feet in a few years. French lavender, Lavandula stoechas, typically grows wider than English lavender, reaching 8 to 10 feet in the same amount of time.
Spanish lavender, Lavandula latifolia, grows quicker than the other two, and can reach a spread of 10 to 15 feet in the same period of time.
In a warm and dry climate, with moderate supplemental watering during dry periods, and minimal-to-none pest and disease pressure, lavender can fill in the area with lush foliage. However, if the climate is colder and the soil is more clay-like, it will take more time for the lavender to spread and increase in size.
Furthermore, if not routinely pruned and cared for, lavender plants may take longer to fill in the space they are planted in.
Generally, with proper care and maintenance, lavender will take an average of 2 to 3 years to fully spread and fill in the area it is planted in.
Is French Lavender fast growing?
No, French Lavender is not fast growing compared to some other types of Lavender. French Lavender is a woodier type of Lavender, which means it takes more time to establish and fill in. The plants grow very slowly and often take up to a year before full establishment.
Once established, French Lavender will typically grow about 18 inches wide, and 12 to 18 inches tall.
French Lavender requires consistent pruning throughout the year to create and maintain it’s desired shape and size. Also, it requires full sun exposure, excellent drainage, and minimal water, so a well prepared soil is essential for the growth of these plants.
Additionally, a fertilizer designed for Lavender should be used at least once or twice each year, in spring and fall.
All in all, French Lavender is not a fast growing plant. It takes time and patience to establish and maintain. Additionally, as with all plants, failure to provide the proper care may result in stunted growth or, in more serious cases, death.
What time of year does the lavender bloom in Provence?
In Provence, lavender typically blooms from mid-June to mid-August. It is best to go during the peak of the blooming season, which is usually from mid-June to mid-July, to get to experience the beauty of the lavender fields in full bloom.
Generally, the warmer the temperatures, the longer the blooming period for the lavender. However, Provence’s blooming season is mostly determined by the weather conditions during the spring and early summer.
Weather conditions such as early rains or a cold spell can cause the blooming period to be shorter, while sunny and warm weather in the weeks leading up to the blooming season can result in a longer blooming period.
How fast does lavender grow from seed?
Lavender is a fast-growing plant, but the speed of its growth depends on many factors, such as soil fertility, light exposure, temperature, and moisture levels. Generally, lavender takes 4-6 weeks to germinate, and can reach a mature height in one season (or between 4-8 months).
In ideal conditions, it can grow up to 3 feet in a single season. In the first year, lavender should not be harvested heavily as the main focus should be on proper growth and development. After the first season, lavender can grow up to 1-2 feet per year.
Since lavender is a drought-tolerant plant, it does not need to be watered frequently when grown in drier climates. However, if proper care is provided and the right conditions are maintained, lavender can grow quickly and produce abundant flowers annually.
Can French lavender survive winter?
Yes, French lavender can survive winter in most climates, including cold, harsh winters. It is hardy in USDA zones 5-9 and can survive temperatures as low as 0°F. It may experience some die-back in extreme temperatures, but the roots should remain viable and can be pruned back in the spring.
For best results, French lavender should be planted in full sun and well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Additionally, it should be mulched in the winter to help it survive extreme temperatures and moisture fluctuations.
Finally, French lavender should be pruned back when the nights become colder to help the plant retain heat. Following these steps can help ensure that French lavender will survive winter and thrive year-round.
How do you bring French lavender back to life?
Bringing French lavender back to life is a relatively simple process. The first step is to trim the plants back to promote healthy regrowth. You can do this by trimming off the dead foliage and flowers with sharp, clean scissors.
Once this is done, you should fertilize the lavender with a balanced fertilizer or an organic fertilizer that is specifically designed for lavender. The fertilizer should be applied to the soil in late February or early March, as this is when the plants begin to show signs of new growth.
Additionally, it is important to ensure the lavender is planted in the right soil and that the soil stays moist but not soggy. To accomplish this, you should irrigate the lavender regularly, especially during hot, dry periods.
Once the plants begin to grow, they will need to be weeded and trimmed regularly in order to keep the plants healthy and maintain their size. Lastly, to keep the plants blooming, it is best practice to deadhead the spent flowers (remove spent flowers as soon as they fade).
With proper care, French lavender can remain healthy and beautiful.
Does lavender grow back after cutting?
Yes, lavender does grow back after cutting, but it depends on several factors. The type of lavender you have, the time of year that it is cut, and the care it is given after the cut are all important when it comes to the plant’s ability to recover.
In general, lavender is quite resilient and will grow back after pruning or cutting. The most important thing is to ensure that the pruning is done at the right time of year, as lavender is most likely to resprout after pruning if it is done in the late spring or early summer.
Additionally, it is important to prune lavender plants back at least slightly each year to create a healthy shape to the plant, and keep it from getting out of control. Doing this will help promote new growth on the lavender, which can help it recover after a severe cut.
Lastly, it is important to fertilize your lavender regularly and make sure that it has ample drainage, as these things can both help with recovering from the pruning.
