Lavender is a quintessential English country garden shrub. In our ever increasing warmer and dryer climes they are probably going to thrive even better over the coming years than the other traditional plants such as hollyhocks, honeysuckle, rose or delphiniums.

☼ Growing ☼

Lavender likes a sunny position or with light shade but in well drained soil. When planting a small plant from a pot, add a handful of grit to the planting hole to aid drainage. If you have planted small young plants then they will probably not flower in their first year. If they do, the blooms should be removed to encourage new growth and branching. It is very hard to do this as you want to see the flowers now but if you do then next year they will be so much lovelier. Lavenders flower from June onwards. You need to cut back after flowering to maintain a good shape but you can also trim back or prune in the spring if you forget to do this in autumn. Cutting back encourages new growth and helps to prevent the plant from becoming too woody and makes the plant more compact and bushy. The newly planted plants will need light but regular watering until they are established and then, in my garden, they make do with what ever the weather brings.

It is possible to propagate lavender. To do this take small cuttings in autumn and place in small pots of seed or cutting compost. If you have a cold green house then over winter these cuttings in there, alternatively place the pots in a sheltered position and if possible protect from frost. It’s certainly worth a go as it doesn’t cost anything and next summer if you don’t want to plant them out you can always give them away as presents!

Lavenders are native to the Mediterranean countries which is why they love dry and sunny conditions.

Folgate has a good dark blue flower head with excellent scent. It grows to a medium height and can have a slightly wavy shaped stem.

French Lavender is slightly less hardy and so needs a more sheltered growing position and some protection from frost. Compared to the English lavender these lavenders tend to have denser flower heads shaped like a giant acorn and large, coloured, petal-like bracts. Bracts are an adapted leaf of the flower colour that rises from the stem by the flower head, creating a winged or butterfly effect which to me look like bunny ears.

Kew Red has cherry red flowers with pale pink tufty ears. It has fragrant flowers and blooms from late spring to late summer. This plant has grey-green, aromatic leaves. It makes a neat, compact edging for a sunny path or border.

I have used a very simple method to make lavender bags which is great fun for children as it doesn’t require any sewing. Rub the flower heads off the stalks and collect in a bowl or old ice cream tub or similar. Buy some ladies cotton hankies – what ever colours you like and if there is lace on the edges that’s fine too. Alternatively use an old net curtain which you can buy from any charity shop and you will have loads of material for a couple of pounds. If using the net, cut out circles about 7-8” across, a tea plate is an ideal template. Place a pile of flower heads in the centre of the hankie or net circle, fold up the edges, give a little twist and tie with satin ribbon. Lavender bags can be placed in drawers or the wardrobe to fragrance the clothes and they will also protect from moths. Alternatively the bag can be placed under your pillow as lavender is said to be good for soothing headaches and encouraging restful sleep. They also make lovely gifts for older relatives!