Hedging Plants – Lavender

Name – botanically known as Lavandula angustifolia. When the Roman Empire conquered southern Britain, the Romans introduced lavender and the name comes from lavar or to wash as it was used to freshen the body and made into cosmetics.

Description and uses – this evergreen has silver-grey narrow leaves and masses of violet flower spikes from July to September, both the foliage and flowers are heavily perfumed.. Lavender is one of the least demanding of plants, asking only well-drained alkaline soil and plenty of sunshine – but as a hedge it is not long-lived – expect to replace plants after a decade or so. Although a native of the Mediterranean region, it is grown throughout the world where soil and climate are favourable and can be grown successfully in most parts of the British Isles.

Maintenance and problems – For a hedge, allow a foot to eighteen inches between plants and if the soil is at all acid, use lots of lime when planting and then an annual top dressing. On heavy soils, line a deep trench with shingle or grit for better drainage and add plenty of sand to the soil. Shab is a killer disease which wiped out the old lavender fields in southern England. Spores of Phoma lavandula appear on the stems as minute black spots and cause the flower stalks to corkscrew and turn brown, then the bush dies. There is no cure – so if shab appears it is best to get rid of the plant completely. Most modern hybrids are resistant to it, but older varieties can be susceptible. Lavenders should be pruned every year to keep them compact. On established plants use secateurs to remove flower stalks and about 2.5cm (1in) of the current year’s growth, making sure that some green growth remains. If a bush has died, it may be because of a hard frost. Some winter protection may be necessary.

Hedging lavender photograph by Minette, used under a creative commons attribution licence

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