Lavender (Lavandula) possesses refinement and attractiveness of flowers, refinement of a smell at blossoming. High decorativeness allows it to be used as constituent elements for the most unusual compositions.
Lavender is often used in landscape design among many gardeners who have experience in the design of plots and are just starting to master this interesting business. Growing this fluffy plant with bright colors will not cause much difficulty.
With lavender, you can make real works. They will not only be amazing, but also impress with their simple, gentle look.
Content:
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Helpful information
Lavender is native to warm climates.
For its beautiful flowering and so that it survives the winter period well, varieties with frost resistance are selected. Mediterranean varieties will most likely not be able to survive the low temperatures of winter.
General description of the plant:
| Characteristic | Peculiarities |
|---|---|
| root system | Woody, strong, with a developed rod system of branches, which are located in the upper layer of soil |
Foliage | Opposite-sessile, oblong-linear, with a wrapped edge. Leaves with dense pubescence, grayish-green. Can be up to 6 cm long |
inflorescences | Spike-shaped, located at the top of the stems |
Fetus | Consists of 4 nuts attached to the calyx |
To make the design of the landscape beautiful, you will need care, quality care
Before you start decorating with lavender, you need to consider the following:
- Survival of the selected species to the environment.
- The plant has a wide variety of varieties. These are tall and short species from which you can choose, combine them, use them for various ideas. Lavender can be used to decorate garden paths and organize a hedge with it.
- The plant blooms in the second half of the summer season.
- Useful properties are not available for all types of flowers.
- For good development, sandy loamy soil is more preferable.
- Possible propagation methods are cuttings, seeds. Planting lavender with seeds is very difficult, time-consuming. And for cuttings, planting material is cut only from bushes that have reached 3 years of age
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One of the main differences between lavender varieties is the shade of flowering. The association of many beginners with the plant is a purple cloud. This is not entirely true. There are blue, pink, greenish tones of flowering
Basically, lavender is divided by professionals into the following types:
English
This variety has other names:
- narrow-leaved (Lavandula angustifolia)
- spike (Lavandula spica)
- medicinal (Lavandula officinalis)
Differs in narrow foliage, longer inflorescences. It is often used for the design of territories.It has good winter hardiness, rapid development. This class does not require digging up the plant for the winter.
The most favorite varieties include:
- Alba
Enchanting abundance of white flowers. Differs in fast, trouble-free growth even in territories with a cold climate.
- Beechwood Blue
Conquers lilac-blue flowering. It has good frost resistance. Perfectly winters in open ground without the need for digging.
Lavender Rosea
- Rosea
It has purple-pink inflorescences and cute villi on them.
- Gem
It is characterized by abundant bright purple flowering. Received frequent use for the organization of living fencing.
A plant with a miniature size, used year-round for interior decoration. The most popular varieties are:
- Nana Alba
- little lottie
They are planted in flower pots and placed on the windowsills.
French
French broadleaf lavender
The Latin name is Lavandula latifolia (broad-leaved lavender). It is characterized by wider foliage with short peduncles.
Differs in capriciousness. Can not be in the winter in the open ground. The most common use is in interior decoration.
Popular varieties include:
- Tiara
- rocky road
- Helmsdale
hybrid
Hybrid (Dutch) lavender
Also known as Dutch lavender (Lavandula x intermedia). It is a hybrid of narrow-leaved and broad-leaved lavender.
Grown in industrial production. It has impressive dimensions in height (up to 2 m). Blooms begin in mid-summer. It is characterized by a variety of shades of flowering.
Popular varieties:
- Richard Gray (dark purple flowers)
- Grosso (purple bloom)
- Alba (white buds)
It will look spectacular in a flower bed with pink roses.
jagged or spanish
Serrated (Spanish) Lavender
Serrated lavender is not at all a frost-resistant species. Great for growing in warm climates or indoor conditions. The shrub is compact. The foliage is silvery patterned.
The flowers are large, fragrant. The smell is pleasant, delicate, between lavender and rosemary. Flowering is excellent with various shades of purple.
Currently, there are about 47 species of lavender in the natural environment. They differ in the shape of foliage, inflorescences, size of shrubs, resistance to low temperatures, pests.
Also artificially created more than 40 varieties, but only a small number of them have useful properties.
multi-cut
Multicut lavender
The Latin name is Lavandula multifidi (multi-cut lavender). The herbaceous semi-shrub belongs to the heat-loving, unpretentious species. It reaches a height of 60 cm.
In the Middle lane it is grown as an annual plant. Flowering lasts all summer and until late autumn. Color blue-violet.
Popular varieties:
- Southerner
- Stekhadskaya
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Lavandin
Lavandin
Among the descriptions of all species deserves a separate paragraph. It is a hybrid species of real lavender and broad-leaved (Spike Lavender). Started growing in 1920. This was influenced by economic factors.
The main beautiful differences between lavandin and real lavender:
- Abundant and prosperous growth on lower ground (400-600 m), i.e. for cultural cultivation the plant is a lighter species.
- Higher yield levels. The volumes of the essential oil obtained are much larger and at a cost price it is cheaper.
- Less susceptibility to pests and diseases.
- Greater effectiveness of decorative qualities, namely greater durability, sharpness of aroma, brightness of violet-blue flowering
Lavandin has lower consumer qualities. The chemical composition does not allow the plant to be used for medicinal purposes in unlimited possibilities. This also applies to essential oils.It cannot be fully used in aromatherapy. Also, lavandin oil cannot be used for burns.
Lavandin
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Favorable places for landing are areas with good sunlight.
As mentioned above, before planting, you need to choose a flower variety that will be more adapted. (i.e. will not be affected by ambient temperature, humidity) to the climatic conditions of the area.
Planting lavender is best in sunny areas. As for the soil, for good development and full flowering, preference is given to sandy loamy alkaline soils. To loosen very dense soil compositions, wood ash and lime are additionally added.
In spring, planting begins after the complete disappearance of frost. For the southern regions, where the winter period is mild, planting is possible in the autumn season for 40-50 days. before the frost hits.
There are several ways to grow lavender:
- seeds
- cuttings
- layering
They are usually chosen based on whether there is already a bush with a stronger root system on the territory or the plant is going to be grown for the first time.
Growing lavender from seeds is a long process. It begins with the stratification of the material in an artificial way, i.e. seeds are kept cold. To do this, they are mixed in a container with sand, closed with polyethylene and put in the refrigerator for 1.5-2 months.
At the end of the spring season, the material is sown in a greenhouse, a box where sand is added. With regular hydration, everything is kept for another 1 month. Only after all these works have been carried out, the seeds can be placed in open space.
It will take 1-2 years to wait for the first flowering, because at first, the seedlings will actively grow the root system. Sowing seeds immediately in open ground is possible only for areas with warm climatic conditions.
Cutting is akin to cloning an existing flower. Work begins in spring or summer after the lavender has faded. It must be borne in mind that rooting will take approximately 1.5 months.
For cutting, young shoots or old ones with young leaves are selected. They are cut with a knife just below the point from which the leaf grows (leaf node). The length of the cuttings should be about 6 cm. The prepared material is released from the lower foliage, dipped in a preparation that stimulates the formation of roots (for example, Kornevin) and planted in a container with deepening on the top leaves.
Perlite
The required composition of the soil for cuttings:
- compost - 1 part
- universal soil - 1 part
- perlite - 1 part
For breeding by layering, the material is prepared from an adult plant. For this task, a slightly lignified branch is selected. An incision is made on it in the middle with a sharp knife.
A place with an incision is placed in the ground and sprinkled with earth on top. After 14 days everything is carefully checked for the presence of roots. It will be possible to separate the layers from the mother bush and plant them separately when the roots are formed in sufficient quantities.
When planting, it is desirable to preserve an earthy coma on the roots
In order to avoid the death of a plant during reproduction or transplantation, certain conditions must be met:
- the landing pit should be with a recess of at least 30 cm
- preservation of an earthy coma on the roots
- use for backfilling only good soil composition
- compulsory coverage mulch (compost, rotted leaves, substrate)
- observance of the gaps between the bushes, which should be equal to the largest height of the flower
- the base of the trunk should not be covered with soil, which will protect against decay
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Care rules
Pruning is the most important step in care.
Under the quality care of a perennial flower, the following work is meant:
- loosening
- weeding
- mulching layer
- watering
- pruning
- preparation for winter
It is necessary to regularly loosen and mulch the soil due to the characteristics of the roots., which require good air circulation with a loose soil composition. Young bushes are especially sensitive to watering.
Overflow is undesirable. It can be the result of rotting roots, yellowing of foliage.
watering lavender
You need to feed lavender when it begins to bloom. For better preparation of the plant for the winter period, it is better to stop fertilizing by the end of the summer season. A good thin layer of mulch makes the use of fertilizer unnecessary.
Another important step in care is pruning. It must be carried out when flowering ends. With its help, a beautiful flower shape is formed and better prepares it for wintering.
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Pennitsa slobbering
Lavender bushes contain phytoncides, and their flowering has a strong aroma, therefore, they are almost not exposed to diseases, attacks of harmful insects.
The only pest from which the plant cannot defend itself is the slobber penny. This is a small cicada. It leaves a white foam on the foliage and uses the juice of the plant as nutrition. They fight the pest by treating the leaves with garlic infusion.
From improper watering, waterlogging, the stems and root system can darken, become covered with rot. The affected bushes are dug up and burned.
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Shelter with spruce branches
After the spikelets have faded, they are trimmed, keeping 10 cm above the ground. If necessary, seeds are collected before pruning.
Next, the plant is watered with a solution of mullein, covered. For shelter, agrotextiles, spruce branches are used. Heat-loving species are transferred in containers to warm rooms.
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Growing lavender
Lavender has versatility, which makes it possible to use it in a flower garden to create a variety of compositions. It will look great anywhere.
The most successful combinations of lavender bushes in the garden will be discussed below.
Alpine slide
Alpine slide
The tenderness of the bushes, located between the stones, will, like an air cloud, enliven everything around.
Mixborder
Mixborder
Lavender bushes in garden decoration can feel great next to a wide variety of plants. The main condition is that these neighbors do not cover the sun, because.the lack of light will oppress, deplete the plant. Lavender will have a very original look if red poppies and blue sage are planted next to it.
Lavender also works best with the following shades:
- pink
- yellow
- White
- bright purple
- Orange
- blue
Border
Border
A sophisticated, charming design of lavender bushes of a soft lilac shade is created in borders. Everyone, walking along such beautiful garden paths, will get real pleasure, peace of mind from the enveloping delicate aroma.
When forming borders with lavender, you will need to regularly trim the plant, to make it look beautiful.
Combination with roses
Good combination with roses
Fragrant beauty is best combined with roses.
Delicate purple spikelets, enveloping large rosebuds, will create a harmonious look in the flower beds in the sunniest corners of the garden plot.
Solitary (single) landings
Group planting is like a purple cloud
With a huge number of amazing combinations of lavender with other flowers, there is also a great option - growing plants in independent plantings.
Lavender bushes in a group plantation, like a purple cloud, they will perfectly complement a well-groomed lawn, creating colorful islands of vegetation against a green carpet.
Growing in closed containers
Growing in a closed container
Lavender bushes planted in containers they look very gentle, sophisticated.
And if you use pots with an unusual design or with a unique design as containers - this will create the greatest creativity of the overall image.
Slope landscaping
Slope landscaping
To strengthen the slopes, many gardeners practice the cultivation of the following plants:
- loosestrife
- veronica
- rhododendron
- juniper
If you plant lavender between them - this can give the slope an absolutely exclusive look.
Flower bed combined with herbs
Herb garden
Arranging a fragrant composition in the country is not difficult. To do this, you need to plant the following herbs next to the lavender:
- Dill
- thyme
- rosemary
A good neighborhood of culture with various companions provides great opportunities for the manifestation of imagination in creating a fragrant cloud. Such a corner will appeal to all household members who will come and relax here.
Hedge
Beautiful decoration near the fence
To create a hedge, tall varieties of lavender are used. They will be at least 70-80 cm high. Favorite varieties include:
- Hidcote Giant
- Melissa Lilac
- Vera
Such a decoration can not only decorate a summer cottage, as well as repel harmful insects that do not like lavender scent.
Tall lavender looks equally beautiful near the fence and for dividing the site into zones.
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Natural "foe" of insects
Lavender for the garden is a very useful plant. This is a natural "enemy" of insects, due to the exhaled aroma during flowering.
With its help, beauty is created in the beds, and also contributes to the collection of environmentally friendly crops of garden crops.
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Beautiful and fragrant decoration not only for the garden, but also at home
Purchased plants are used to grow lavender bushes at home.
When choosing a future pet, you should carefully examine it. Foliage and stems should not be damaged by insects. The root system should be clearly visible and light. Roots hidden in the ground indicate a recent transplant. In such a situation, it is not known whether the plant will take root.
The first few days after purchase, the flower should stand in a sunny place. He needs proper care. After that, it must be transplanted into a larger pot. Drainage is poured at the bottom, and sand with peat is poured on top. The transplanted plant is watered with the addition of top dressing.
Further care for the flower is the same as for the plant, grown in open ground.
Autumn for lavender is a dormant period. At this time, watering, fertilizing is reduced. The plant is moved to a cooler corner, slightly pruned.
Application
Priceless gift of nature
Lavender bushes are a priceless natural gift. Culture for its beneficial properties is widely used by cosmetologists, pharmacists, perfumers, cooks.
In folk medicine, narrow-leaved lavender is used. It has the following properties:
- regenerating
- bactericidal
- antiseptic
Lavender flowers are used to make oils. They are added to solutions for inhalation, to medicines for the prevention of influenza.
Cosmetic lavender oil is used in skin and hair care products. (shampoos, creams, balms). It provides protection, nourishment, strengthening.
Application of lavender
Broad-leaved and medicinal lavender is used in cooking. It is added in the preparation of sauces, soups, fish dishes, smoked meat. Lavender flowers are brewed in healing infusions, tea.
Lavender during flowering fills everything around with a wonderful aroma. It creates a beautiful view in parks, gardens. The swaying of purple-violet flowering bushes in park areas is like waves that scatter along the paths. She creates magical images of landscapes, captured by numerous artists, photographers around the world.
Lavender bushes in landscape design are able to create beautiful, irresistible compositions. In addition, the plant is unpretentious in care. The use of these bright colors in the backyard will amaze with its original, Mediterranean lightness.
The use of a little imagination will help you easily find suitable companions for culture, and simple recommendations of professionals will suggest the most suitable place for planting, where lavender will quickly and seamlessly grow, develop, delight everyone around with its appearance.
PHOTO GALLERY
Video: Propagation and planting of lavender
Propagation and planting of lavender
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