July 2007-Lavender
Lavender in Sonoma
by Gaius Robinson,MG
If ever there was a plant that brings joy to the Sonoma gardener, it is lavender! This easy to grow herb has many stellar qualities. It is impressively deer resistant. Snails shun it. Bees and butterflies love it. The flower wands when picked, give a lovely sweet fresh scent to any room. The dried flower heads yield a delightful seed product that has been used for centuries to freshen fabrics and repel insects. It can even be used as a flavoring in delicate foods and beverages.
How is it that something that is so attractive to human noses is so unattractive to deer and other pests? Perhaps for those animals, it is just too intense a flavor. Whatever the reason, gardeners rejoice at the beauty, longevity and fragrance of this long revered plant.
Lavender was used by the Egyptians in mummifications, the Romans in their bathhouses, and medieval monks in tonics and laundries. Today, here in Sonoma, there are several lavender farms that harvest this sweet smelling crop for profit.
Your garden can profit, too, with the addition of this easy to grow, water-wise herb. By planting several varieties you can give your garden months of delightful flowers. There are three main types of lavenders, with over 40 named varieties.
The first to bloom in the spring are the Spanish lavenders. These are the most floriferous, with each small pineapple-shaped head sprouting several long bracts of either purple, periwinkle or even yellow bracts. Usually this plant will have a second or even third bloom time later in the summer. The needle shaped foliage is gray-green.
The English lavenders are much daintier, with each tiny flower spike first strewn with minute flowers that gradually become the dried lavender seedpods. The foliage is greener and denser than any of the Spanish lavenders. Shearing off the flowers and stems after blooming helps the plant keep a compact shape. New flowers only form on new growth, so keeping the woody stalks to a minimum is important. Hidcote is a popular variety with an intense blue-purple color, that grows very compact and short.
The Lavandins, or English Lavender Hybrids bloom last. The most well know varieties in this group are Provence and Grosso. Grosso is grown for the oil that is used by the cosmetic industry. It makes wonderful dried wands to gather into bunches and tie with a pretty ribbon. Provence has a sweeter scent, and is used in many lavender products. Both plants grow very quickly. No need to buy a large 5 gallon or even 1 gallon plant, unless you need it for a quick statement in the garden. A 4 inch pot will reach the same size in about one year.
The most important requirement when you plant your lavender is to give it good drainage. It does not like soggy areas. Use compost mixed well with the soil when you plant. The uneven particles from the compost create better soil aeration, which gives the roots a good place to absorb nutrients without drowning them. Lavenders do very well planted on a sloping area. The rain doesn't have a chance to puddle and drown the plant's roots. If your landscape it totally flat, create a small berm on which to plant the lavender, or make small mounds for each individual plant. If planted correctly, your fragrant herb should live for at least seven to ten years in your garden.
It is important when you first plant not to let the soil entirely dry out. The roots need to become established before you reduce the amount of water. A small amount of time released fertilizer is needed in the fall, before the winter rains. Planting in full sun is another requirement of this Mediterranean beauty. Plants should get at least 6 hours a day of direct sunlight, and they don't mind the heat a bit.
Lavender can be harvested once or twice a year. If pruned in June/July (at the height of color and before it fades with heat) another crop will grow and be ready by September/October. When pruning, shear the wands just slightly down into the mass of the plant to avoid the plants becoming leggy/woody over time. The life of lavender plants is typically 5-7 years.
Planting several varieties of lavenders will give your garden a long blooming season with no pests, little water, and ancient beauty.
Lavender is available at most nurseries in Sonoma County, with good selections at Cottage Gardens, Harmony Farm Supply and Mostly Natives. There are also a number of lavender festivals in Sonoma County, including a lavender day at the Petaluma Farmer's Market on July 7 from 2-5 pm, sponsored by the Northcoast Lavender Guild.
by Gaius Robinson,MG
How is it that something that is so attractive to human noses is so unattractive to deer and other pests? Perhaps for those animals, it is just too intense a flavor. Whatever the reason, gardeners rejoice at the beauty, longevity and fragrance of this long revered plant.
Lavender was used by the Egyptians in mummifications, the Romans in their bathhouses, and medieval monks in tonics and laundries. Today, here in Sonoma, there are several lavender farms that harvest this sweet smelling crop for profit.
Your garden can profit, too, with the addition of this easy to grow, water-wise herb. By planting several varieties you can give your garden months of delightful flowers. There are three main types of lavenders, with over 40 named varieties.
The first to bloom in the spring are the Spanish lavenders. These are the most floriferous, with each small pineapple-shaped head sprouting several long bracts of either purple, periwinkle or even yellow bracts. Usually this plant will have a second or even third bloom time later in the summer. The needle shaped foliage is gray-green.
The English lavenders are much daintier, with each tiny flower spike first strewn with minute flowers that gradually become the dried lavender seedpods. The foliage is greener and denser than any of the Spanish lavenders. Shearing off the flowers and stems after blooming helps the plant keep a compact shape. New flowers only form on new growth, so keeping the woody stalks to a minimum is important. Hidcote is a popular variety with an intense blue-purple color, that grows very compact and short.
The most important requirement when you plant your lavender is to give it good drainage. It does not like soggy areas. Use compost mixed well with the soil when you plant. The uneven particles from the compost create better soil aeration, which gives the roots a good place to absorb nutrients without drowning them. Lavenders do very well planted on a sloping area. The rain doesn't have a chance to puddle and drown the plant's roots. If your landscape it totally flat, create a small berm on which to plant the lavender, or make small mounds for each individual plant. If planted correctly, your fragrant herb should live for at least seven to ten years in your garden.
It is important when you first plant not to let the soil entirely dry out. The roots need to become established before you reduce the amount of water. A small amount of time released fertilizer is needed in the fall, before the winter rains. Planting in full sun is another requirement of this Mediterranean beauty. Plants should get at least 6 hours a day of direct sunlight, and they don't mind the heat a bit.
Lavender can be harvested once or twice a year. If pruned in June/July (at the height of color and before it fades with heat) another crop will grow and be ready by September/October. When pruning, shear the wands just slightly down into the mass of the plant to avoid the plants becoming leggy/woody over time. The life of lavender plants is typically 5-7 years.
Planting several varieties of lavenders will give your garden a long blooming season with no pests, little water, and ancient beauty.
Lavender is available at most nurseries in Sonoma County, with good selections at Cottage Gardens, Harmony Farm Supply and Mostly Natives. There are also a number of lavender festivals in Sonoma County, including a lavender day at the Petaluma Farmer's Market on July 7 from 2-5 pm, sponsored by the Northcoast Lavender Guild.