If you want to bring a touch of Provence to your garden, you should definitely plant lavender. You don't have to pay much attention to this.
Heritage of Provence: lavender
A symbol of Provence, lavender simply belongs in every garden. On the one hand, the easy-care perennial plant spreads a pleasant scent in its immediate vicinity (essential oil) and, on the other hand, it has many advantages as a herbal plant and useful plant. In Central Europe there are about 20 to 30 different types of lavender that thrive magnificently. Here is a small list of the most popular varieties:
- Real lavender - so-called wild form
- spitting lavender
- Canary Lavender (pot plant)
- Dwarf Lavender - shorter plant height
- Provence lavender - also called French lavender
- Cream lavender (pot plant), also available in pink flowers
- Broadleaf Lavender
- Woolly lavender (pot plant)
- Oregano Lavender
- Garden lavender - widespread, extremely easy to care for, is available in numerous subgenera
These lavender bushes grow on average about 50 to 100 centimeters high. The most commonly available garden lavender varieties are also offered under the evocative names Blue Ice, Hidcote, Imperial, Melissa, Miss Katherine, Peter Pan, Siesta and numerous others.
Also very popular because it is extremely robust, but there are also lavender hybrids between garden lavender varieties and Provence lavender varieties, or giant lavender and Provence lavender, etc.
Growing lavender - That's how it's done
Location:
Lavender prefers a dry, preferably sunny and wind-protected site. Whereby he makes no demands on the soil conditions. This can also be quite low in nutrients. However, you should never plant lavender in a location where there is a risk of waterlogging.
Many lavender varieties are also ideal for growing in pots. Which is why it can easily find a spot on balconies and terraces to spread its pleasant scent there.
» Tip: There are a few things to consider when overwintering potted plants. That's how it should beOverwinter lavender in pots frost-free. It is therefore ideal if you place the plants in as bright and cool a room as possible for the winter.
Fertilize:
Lavender should be fertilized in spring (e.g. with compost) and once in late summer (immediately after flowering). That's enough.
Propagating lavender
Once the lavender has faded, you need to cut it back. But don't throw away the shoots! You can use these as cuttings and thus multiply the lavender. Simply place the shoots in a bowl of potting soil. After about six to eight weeks, sufficient roots will have formed so that you can place the young plants in individual pots.
Use lavender to repel moths
In addition, the ethereal scents of the lavender blossom serve as an effective means of repelling moths in the wardrobes. You should therefore cut back or cut off the lavender with scissors shortly after it has blossomed. Then put the lavender blossoms in a cotton fabric bag and put it in the wardrobe.
» Tip: As soon as the fragrance wears off, all you have to do is rub the fabric bag a little or gently press it several times and new fragrances will be released again.