Among the most beautiful landscape vistas in the world are the lavender fields of Provence, France. Here, row upon row of lavender fills the countryside with waves of purple flowers. Lavender has long been used in the perfume industries of France, and is a popular crop for farmers.
Fields of Lavender
Many small-holding country dwellers in North America are beginning to see not just the financial possibilities of turning a field or two over to the growing of lavender, but also the beauty of those fields of lavender when the flowers are in full bloom and ready for harvest. There are a number of lavender cultivars that have very strong scent for the perfume industry and can be grown in lower garden zones. This makes it a venture well-suited to colder climates.
The best varieties for cooler areas in North America are the English varieties like Hidcote and Munstead. Old Grappenhall lavender is a favorite for its height. The French lavenders can be grown in garden zones 7 and higher – zone 6 if the area is protected from the drying winds of winter.
Bring the Lavender Fields of France into the Garden
For those who have a large garden, rather than a bit of land, that same inspiration from the lavender fields of France can be easily brought into their own plots. It will be on a smaller scale, but it will still look beautiful.
Designing with Lavender
There are lots of garden design possibilities when it comes to working with lavender. The key thing to remember is that lavender always looks better when grown en masse. Large groups of any plant variety look best when clustered together, but this is especially true with lavender. The flower spikes stand out better. Each individual plant won't be lost amongst other flower varieties, but instead, they will work together as a unit. This unit is sculptural, and regardless of the large numbers of lavender plants massed together, it's both elegant and subtle.
The Lavender Bed's Location
Pick a sunny area, preferably close to the middle of the lawn, but not dead center. Lay a flexible garden hose or brightly-colored rope on the lawn and move it around to form the shape of the new bed. The best shapes for this bed should have a natural look – rather than symmetric. A wavy, undulating shape will look more natural. Consider a size that is quite substantial in the lawn. This is dependent, of course, on the size of the lawn. In this garden bed, size matters, and it should look balanced with the rest of the space, so that the lavender stands out.
Be willing to give up approximately 30% of your lawn to devote to the lavender bed. This may seem like a huge space to devote to one plant variety, and it does take courage. But by the same token, look how much space is devoted to lawn grass. Gardeners who experience faint-of-heart at the idea, might consider drawing it out first to get a rough visual of the completed effect. Consider the uses for the lawn, as well as traffic patterns. There are other design features in the garden that need to be considered as well, and every garden is unique. Think about balance and form before taking up your spade.
If there is an area of lawn that happens to be on a gentle slope, consider placing this lavender bed on the slope with steps running down the middle of it. This is especially useful for those who have properties where the lay of the land runs downhill from the house.
Preparing the Lavender Bed
Once the gardener is satisfied with the layout of the new lavender bed, she's ready to dig out the lawn. If possible, slide the garden spade under the lawn, rather than chop it up. This sod may be useful for rejuvenating patchy areas that have popped up elsewhere. It can be rolled and saved for future use if kept damp.
When the lawn is cleared, it's time to dig out the bed and turn the soil. Lavender prefers an alkaline sandy soil over clay, but will grow happily in most soils without any amendments. Lavender has its origins in the hot dry areas of the Mediterranean, so they need little extra moisture.
Lavender Propagation
Lavender is difficult to start from seed as it requires a long germination period, and many of the lavender strains that do germinate don't breed true to the named variety. The cheapest and most popular route to propagating lavender is by taking cuttings. If the gardener is filling a very large bed with lavender, this is the best option as she could save hundreds of dollars. The gardener will need to purchase just enough plants to take those cutting from. Fill the bed sparsely the first year with first year plants from the nursery. This is a good beginning, but it's also the cutting stock. Please read How to Propagate Lavender With Stem Cuttings if taking cuttings is a new skill.
Note: If taking cuttings seems like a lot of work, it is. To avoid this work, gardeners could do a little research and make a deal with a grower for the number of plants she needs. She could buy lavender in bulk, because growers are more apt to offer a reasonable price, and if time is important, this is also a good route to take.
The Nursery Bed for Lavender Cuttings
After taking the lavender cuttings, place them in a temporary nursery bed to grow on. The temporary nursery bed should be in a protected area of the garden in dappled shade. In most cases, they can be moved into the new lavender bed by the late summer of the following year.
Planting the Mini Lavender Field
When planting out the mini lavender field, a full look is most appealing. Allow 12" to 16" around each plant as they can become very bushy.
In the first and second years of growth, trim the spent flower spikes. By the third and fourth year, trim the bushes themselves by about half. This will ensure the plants will be even bushier and more floriferous the next year. The hard trimming may have to be continued annually. Lavender just gets more beautiful over time.
The lavender field could take two to three seasons to develop from cuttings, but within five years, it will be bushy, offering the appeal of the lavender fields of France, but on a smaller scale.
Using the Lavender in the Home
Lavender is one of the most pungent of the scented herbs and it has many uses inside the home. The gardener could fill a muslin envelope with lavender and place it under her pillowcase to ensure a good night's sleep. It's especially useful to alleviate headaches. The University of Maryland Medical Center has in-depth information on the medicinal uses of lavender.
Bowls could be filled with the dried flower heads to add scent to rooms. Bundles of lavender could be tied together to dry upside down and then placed inside closets and linen cupboards to keep the moths at bay. Every year, the gardener will have fresh lavender for potpourri, sachets, vinegars and food garnishes.
A garden landscape with a sweeping lavender bed in full bloom is striking against the greenness of the surrounding environment. It's a noticeable sea of purple and a feast for the eyes as well as the nose.
References
- An Encyclopaedia of Gardening, T. W. Saunders, Collingridge, 1899
- The Harrowsmith Illustrated Book of Herbs, Patrick Lima, Camden House, 1986
- The Encyclopaedia of Organic Gardening, New Revised Edition, Organic Gardening Magazine, Rodale Press, 1978
Lorraine Syratt - Lorraine Syratt is a freelance writer, gardener and part-time antique dealer. Please see her full profile for more information.
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