Her majesty, lavender: planting and caring for a plant in the country

Incomparable lavender, planting and caring for which requires special knowledge and skills, brings great joy to its owners. Its amazing aroma, unique color and useful properties leave no one indifferent. The flower is sung in songs and poetry. Often depicted in paintings. The plant is grown in summer cottages and city flower beds.

It is actively used to decorate borders, rockeries and alpine slides. What does this cute mysterious flower look like? What are the varieties of culture? What is the secret of planting and caring for lavender at their summer cottage? Find out what the experts are saying.

Incense queen in adorable outfit

Lavender is an evergreen perennial from the Yasnotkovye family. It is found naturally in India, the Canary Islands, Africa and southern Europe. The cultivated species are grown even in countries with cold climates. Lovely buds give lavender a unique beauty. They appear in mid-June and decorate flower meadows for 2.5 months.

Spike-like inflorescences are located on long shoots and sway gracefully in the wind. Each of them has 6 to 10 buds. Depending on the variety, the petals are painted in the following colors:

• blue;
• blue;
• purple;
• pink;
• snow-white.

When the flowering period is over, dark brown seeds form on the upright shoots. Lavender is characterized by a woody core rhizome. The leaf plates are narrowed ovals with a serrated or even frame.

During flowering, lavender glades resemble a bright blanket that exudes a unique aroma.

The valuable properties of the plant are in good hands

The flower has long been popular in folk medicine. However, modern research has shown its true benefits.

Lavender contains:

• essential oils;
• tannins;
• ursolic acid;
• flavonoids;
• linalyl acetate.

The plant's essential oils are used to create toilet soaps, perfumes and body creams. Foliage and buds are added to vegetable dishes and refreshing drinks. Decoctions are prepared to treat bruises and minor burns. For severe headaches, traditional healers offer alcoholic tinctures with lavender flowers. The herb is used to treat angina, relieve stress and nausea.

If you add 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil to cold water for pouring, the body will exude a pleasant aroma for several hours.

The many-sided beauty of lavender at your service

Today there are over 30 varieties of lavender. In gardening, only a few names are used. Let's get acquainted with the most popular varieties.

Narrow-leaved (English)

The plant is an erect, branched bush with an extensive root system. Its height reaches up to 1 m. With active development, it forms a lush crown of many shoots.

Popular subspecies:

• Alba;
• Sentiva Blue;
• Munstead.

Its leaf plates are oblong and colored dark green. The edges are smooth. The maximum length of the buds is about 1 cm. The racemose inflorescences have a rich purple hue. English lavender can withstand temperatures up to 20 ° C. Lives on one site for up to 20 years.

In winters with little snow, the culture needs additional shelter.

Broadleaf (French) lavender

The flower grows up to 1.5 m in height.Deep green leaf plates are located along the erect stem. Light purple buds are crowned with stable flower stalks. Delivers a pleasant aroma. Blossom in mid-April and bloom until early summer. Under favorable conditions, flowering is repeated in September. French lavender easily tolerates drought and does not lose its attractiveness at + 16 ° C.

The most popular subspecies of French lavender: Helmsday, Tiara, Regal Splendur.

Scalloped lavender

The fragrant beauty of this species is distinguished by its high growth up to 150 cm. It got its name due to the jagged edges of the leaf plates. Known varieties:

• Royal Grown (purple);
• "Redundulata" (pale pink);
• Regal Splendour (purple).

Spike-shaped inflorescences contain up to 10-12 buds, which are painted in bright purple color. The variety is considered thermophilic. The first signs of the disease appear already at a temperature of + 15 ° C.

Toothed lavender is grown in flower beds where there is a lot of light and limestone soil prevails.

Hybrid (Dutch) lavender

The variety is bred from narrow-leaved and broad-leaved species. Under favorable conditions it grows up to 2 m in height. Inflorescences bloom in the first month of summer. It is used as an industrial raw material for the production of essential oils and medicinal herbs.

Garden lavender: planting and care outdoors

The majestic queen of incense is bred with seeds, grown cuttings, bush splitting and natural layering. However, first, a suitable territory is selected and carefully prepared. It is the main criterion for stimulating decorative culture. Since flowers love an abundance of light, an open area with maximum sunlight is suitable. It should be freely blown by the wind from all directions. In cooler climates, lavender is grown in portable containers. With a significant drop in temperature, they are removed to greenhouses or houses.

The plant develops well in the shade. However, under such conditions, the number of flowering buds decreases.

Aromatic bushes do not like too wet soil. Therefore, wetlands and damp areas are definitely not suitable for a flower bed. If there are no other options, you need to make high-quality drainage. In areas where groundwater passes too close, they prefer elevations.

The soil

As you know, a special scale is used to determine a suitable soil. Fertile garden soil corresponds to pH 4-8. For example, with a large amount of lime, the soil is at the maximum value. The neutral value is 7 pH. Below 6.5 indicates an increased acidity of the soil.

Check the pH level with a special indicator, which is sold in stores. Check the acidity also using litmus paper. To do this, the soil is diluted with water, and then the indicator is dipped. Blue indicates an alkaline soil. There is also an easier option.

Grows on acidic soil:

• sorrel;
• mother and stepmother;
• buttercups.

On the alkaline earth, you can find an abundance of rape. This type of soil is best suited for planting and caring for lavender.

If the soil is acidic in the country, they bring into it:

• natural lime;
• eggshell;
• wood ash.

The plant does not like heavy clay soil with high humidity. To remedy the situation, they bring in gravel, coarse sand or granite chips.

First of all, the territory for planting lavender is raked out of all kinds of debris, dry foliage, dry grass. If there are weeds, they are cut down. Then the land is carefully plowed with a shovel. If necessary, add humus, compost or peat. Heavy soil is diluted with sand. Align with a rake, make holes. Wood ash is added to each.

Propagation of lavender by seeds

To begin with, we will learn how to grow lavender in the country in the most economical way. As you know, the cost of seeds is much lower than cuttings or ready-made seedlings.In addition, plants grown by this method are distinguished by strong immunity. They are less sick and resistant to pests.

Before starting to plant lavender, carry out seed stratification... This increases germination and frost resistance. In late autumn, seeds are planted in the ground to a depth of about 4 mm. If the soil is too dry, water it. They will be exposed to a cold environment for about 4 months. As a result, the adaptability of the plant will increase.

In winter, the garden bed is covered with a lot of snow.

There is also an artificial way to stratify seeds. At the end of December, the material is sown in a small container with moistened sand. They are sent to the refrigerator for a maximum of 2 months. In early spring, they begin to prepare seedlings.

First of all, they prepare the soil from the components:

• forest soil (3 parts);
• sand (1 part);
• humus if necessary.

Pour it into prepared containers. Shallow holes are made. Sow seeds. Sprinkle with sifted soil on top. Moisturizes slightly. Cover with glass or film. They are taken to a room where there is a lot of light and a temperature of + 20 ° C.

After about 14-15 days, single green shoots will appear. And after a month there will be a great many of them. At this point, the cover is removed. When the first two leaves are formed in the seedlings, a dive is carried out. A layer of miniature stones is placed on the bottom of the cups. Cover with soil and plant seedlings. Water with a syringe. The compacted soil is loosened with a wooden toothpick.

After 2 months, the seedlings are transferred to the prepared area.

Seedling care

As soon as the first shoots appear, the containers are placed in places where there is an abundance of light. If it is not enough, lamps are connected. In a dark room, seedlings are quickly stretched, which adversely affects the culture.

An important procedure is preparation for a new environment. It is being implemented gradually. Every day, containers are taken out into the street and the protective covering (film or glass) is removed. The hardening time is increased. When the sprouts become accustomed to the changeable temperature, the containers are no longer covered. Water the plant regularly using a watering can. The hardened seedlings dive and then are transferred to the beds.

Autumn sowing of lavender

In areas with mild winters, lavender is sown in October. First, carefully prepare the garden:

• loosen the soil;
• bring in a little peat;
• remove the roots;
• align the site.

If the ground is too heavy, add coarse sand or fine gravel. This ensures high-quality drainage. In the finished soil, holes are made 4 cm deep, where the culture is sown. From above, the soil is lightly tamped with your feet, and then watered. In dry autumn, humidification is carried out regularly.

Planting lavender cuttings

One of the most effective ways to propagate a fragrant crop is by cuttings. The process begins with the selection of annual shoots in the existing garden. Then each specimen is cut into pieces up to 10 cm long. Soaked in a special root growth stimulator for 2 hours. They are planted in containers with light soil to a depth of 3 cm. Cover with glass or polyethylene on top. Watering the scraps is carried out depending on the rate of drying of the soil. After 1.5 months, the cuttings will take root, which means they are ready for planting in open ground.

To obtain a lush lavender meadow, the seedlings are placed 55 cm apart. For tall varieties, 1 m is enough. The bush is lowered into the prepared hole. Gently straighten the delicate roots. Sprinkle with soil and watered abundantly. Within a year, young seedlings will bloom.

Preparation of layering

Planting material is obtained from existing plants. The right time is early summer, when lavender sprouts a lot. The lower specimens are directed into small depressions (pre-dug), sprinkled with soil and secured with wire. Marked layers are watered regularly.After 2 months, they will have roots. The seedlings are cut off and transferred to a new place.

Loving Lavender Care

There are general rules on how to care for lavender that grows outdoors. She needs supervision from early spring until the first frost. Let's consider in stages all types of work.

Spring pruning

When winter is a thing of the past, the plant is put in order. Remove sick or frozen shoots. They create a spherical crown so that the bushes harmoniously fit into the landscape design of the summer cottage. The crop is cut, leaving only a third of its total height. Otherwise, the plant will get sick and die over time.

The second time, the procedure is repeated after flowering around the middle of summer. The peduncles and several subsequent leaves are removed. Thanks to this, the plant gains strength to renew its greenery.

Fertilizers for lavender

In early spring, lavender is fed with nitrogen fertilizers. To do this, take 10 liters of water. Add 1 tablespoon of urea or "sodium humate" (2 tablespoons). Mix well and water the seedlings. Each bush will require about 6 liters of fertilizer.

When lavender starts throwing out its buds, it is fed with a special fertilizer "Agricola-Fantasy". 2 tablespoons of the substance are poured into a bucket of water. About 4 liters of top dressing are consumed per unit.

Mineral and organic fertilizers are also effective for the development of culture.

Regular feeding of adult plants stimulates the development and emergence of buds. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied in spring, when lavender is actively growing. In the summer, during the development of inflorescences, for the first time the earth is watered with potassium-phosphorus substances. After 15 days, the procedure is repeated.

Loosening the soil

Like all plants, lavender needs sufficient oxygen. Therefore, throughout the season, it is carefully weeded. The procedure helps to remove weeds in a timely manner, fluff the soil and monitor the growth of the crop.

It is advisable to cover the area with pine bark mulch to protect the flowers from tall grass.

Watering

An important aspect of lavender care is proper hydration. Otherwise, the root system will suffer, and the plant will begin to ache. Water the crop when the top ball of soil dries up. In hot times, the bushes are moistened 2 times a week and sprayed with a spray bottle. In spring and autumn, once every 15 days is enough. Seedlings are watered more often.

Preparing for the cold

When choosing a site for planting lavender, gardeners initially take into account the climatic conditions of their region. Where there are severe winters, it is placed under the protection of other plants. The type of culture is also taken into account. For example, English lavender easily tolerates cold weather, planting and caring for it in the southern regions is not difficult. Lavender doesn't need any extra cover. However, at -25 ° C may die.

The most dangerous time for lavender is snow melting and spring frosts. Due to the formed ice, the root system does not receive enough oxygen. As a result, it gradually begins to rot.

Therefore, summer residents do several procedures:

• for protection from snow, shoots are neatly tied with a rope;
• the entire area is covered with mulch;
• from above the bushes are covered with spruce or pine spruce branches.

Fallen foliage is not suitable for shelter, as it causes rotting.

French broadleaf lavender is very frosty. Therefore, in late autumn, the bushes are covered with soil and covered with straw. From above, a strong shelter is built from dry brushwood and coniferous spruce branches. In winter, they periodically check whether parts of the structure have been blown away by the wind. If necessary, the shelter is repaired.

Plants that are grown in containers are stored in greenhouses or on verandas in winter. In multi-storey buildings, lavender is placed on an insulated loggia. In specimens that winter in apartments, all branches are removed in the spring.

Possible problems

If lavender grows in your area, planting and caring for it can be a hassle for you. The plant has its own characteristics that must be considered.

No matter how majestic the queen of incense is, she is not immune from disease. The reasons are very different:

• unforeseen climatic conditions;
• significant care errors;
• weeds.

For example, frequent changes in temperature and rainfall can be detrimental to lavender. Its buds and shoots first turn brown and then become covered with a bluish bloom. Symptoms like these indicate a serious fungal infection called gray mold.

To solve the problem, activities are carried out:

• carefully examine the bushes;
• remove all affected branches;
• plowing up the soil between rows.

In case of serious infection, the plants are sprayed with special preparations. For example, "Rovral Flo", "Teldor" or "Biosept". The same substances are used to prevent dangerous infections.

There are times when weakened parts of the culture appear in the garden. And the root collar is covered with white or pink bloom. Symptoms indicate fusarium wilting. Eliminate it with chemicals that are sprayed with lavender bushes. To prevent the disease, old plantations are replaced with young seedlings.

The fungus Septoria often infects lavender. Its presence is indicated by round spots. They are colored brown and topped with a dark border. Usually the parasite hibernates on the affected leaf plates. And at a temperature of + 15 ° C "resurrects". His spores are spread by wind or rain. To protect the culture from septoria, use "Amistar", "Garant" or "Topsin". Spraying is carried out several times.

How sad it is when yellow spots are formed on the stems, smoothly turning into a gray tone. Over time, foliage and shoots become covered with dark spots, dry and quickly curl. Signs show that the lavender has been affected by branch phomosis. To save the plant, diseased parts are immediately removed. Healthy bushes are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture.

Pests

The culture is not protected from insects, which adversely affect its development. In order for lavender to please with its flowering, planting and caring for a plant must include pest control measures. In hot times, foliage and stems are covered with white cobwebs. This indicates the presence of a spider mite. It sucks out all the juices from lavender, as a result of which it dies. Get rid of the tick with chemicals.

A solution of laundry soap, which is generously applied to the greens, can help.

If a sticky foam-like substance appears on the shoots, then the plant is under threat. Pennies attacked him. Parasites arrange egg clutches on leaf plates and stems. And to protect them, they release a foamy substance. Although lavender will not die from such a neighborhood, it is still better to get rid of it. To eliminate pennies, a stream of clean water is sent to the bushes, trying not to damage the greens.

Sometimes rainbow beetles fly to lavender. Despite their attractiveness, insects devour young shoots of plants and foliage with appetite. As a result, the plantings lose their decorative effect and aroma. Get rid of pests in the classical way. They are collected in empty plastic bottles and then destroyed. Thanks to this, lavender continues to delight with its unique beauty.

Wonderful lavender: planting and care in different regions

On the territory of the Moscow region, flowers are grown using seedlings. It is transferred to the garden in early summer. Lignified stems are removed in autumn. For the winter period, shelters are built from spruce branches.

Lavender also grows in the adjacent districts of St. Petersburg; planting and caring for the plant have their own characteristics. It is impractical to sow seeds in the beds in late autumn. Due to severe frosts, they will not survive until spring.Plants feel great on highlands, where there is enough oxygen and light.

For the northern regions of the Urals and Siberia, only frost-resistant varieties of lavender are suitable. The seeds are necessarily stratified. Before planting on a flower bed (in June), the seedlings are gradually hardened. During the warm season, they feed the soil. Pruning is carried out in autumn and spring.

Despite the fact that lavender is a thermophilic culture, even in cold latitudes it can delight people with its beauty. The main thing is to properly prepare the site, plant it in time, fertilize the soil, cut and equip a shelter for the winter.

Delicate and fragrant lavender blossoms continually decorate gardens, alpine slides and flower beds. And the dried spikelets of the plant perfectly fit into the home interior. Its heady aroma has a beneficial effect on sleep. When irritated, relieves stress. Miniature bouquets scare away insects. Alcohol tinctures are used to treat colds. It's good when lavender is always at hand.

Lavender, planting and indoor care - video