Noticed you grow lavender? Was wondering, is it supposed to be a perennial? And if so, do you cut it down to the ground in the winter?
I planted some lavender last year. I am in zone 6 (Nashville, TN). It seemed to survive our horrible winter here-was wondering if it would do better this spring if pruned.
Thanks!
Mary
I adore Lavender...I plant it everywhere we live (hubby is Active Duty Army). It’s kind of...picky. It’s supposed to be a perennial. When we lived in TX, I had to buy a new plant every year, it was just too humid, and the first year, I didn’t pick a well-enough drained area, the 2nd year year...I was very pregnant, and neglected most of my garden, being unable to cope with the heat...it got root rot. :(
This is our 3rd growing season in Northern VA...the first one, we arrived too late to really do much, and so all I did was pull out the crud that the previous owners had planted (more monkey grass than anyone should ever see in one place), last year I planted a Lavender plant...and it was lovely...and it lived...and then...one of my dogs dug it up last fall. LOL And so...this year, I’m starting from seed. And planting in the front of the house, where the dogs cannot get near it.
So, long story short...I’m not the one to ask about Lavender. I have tons of experience with dead Lavender...not so much with the living variety. :P Teehee...in my defense...my daughter and I have a collection of county fair ribbons to remind us that we are not complete and utter garden failures. HAHA
You’re supposed to trim lavender back about an inch in mid spring, whatever that is. I just trim it back sometimes when the tulips start coming up.
It encourages it to grow bushy. Lavender can be really persnickety to grow, but once you have well established plants, they can become mammoth.
I have a couple that are finally huge. I can harvest tons of lavender. And you’d think I could find a market for it with what it costs, right?
Guess again.