To extend the blooming period of your lavender, consider this professional advise: Regularly prune or deadhead your lavender plants. This practice encourages a prolonged and more spectacular display of flowers.
Sporting Everlasting Lavender Blooms: Tips and Tricks
- Discovering the Art of Deadheading Lavender
- Timing Your Deadheading for Maximum Blooms
- Decoding Deadheading versus Pruning
- Unlocking More Lavender with Optimal Care
- Uncovering the Longest Blooming Lavender Varieties
Few sights remind us of the paradise of gardens quite like the blanket of lavender's captivating purple hues. Not only do these elegant flowers enchant visitors with their fragrance, but they also supply a vital source of food for pollinators and add a touch of charm to any landscaping project. If you have been neglecting deadheading your lavender, you are in for a treat—your garden could be bursting with blooms all season long with a little TLC. Here's a simple guide to extending the lavender's blooming period and helping you enjoy its enchanting aroma for longer.
Discovering the Art of Deadheading Lavender
Deadheading is the process of pruning off spent or dying flowers, enabling the plant to channel its energy into producing fresh flowers rather than wasting it on seeds. By deadheading lavender, you can encourage repeat blooms multiple times during the flowering season. Deadheading is effective for all types of lavender, whether they grow in pots or directly in the ground, and for both naturally repeat-blooming varieties like Spanish lavender and those that can be coaxed into reblooming, such as English and French lavender[1].
Timing Your Deadheading for Maximum Blooms
The secret to successful deadheading lies in the timing. Lavender blooms depend on the variety and climate, but as a general rule, you should remove faded flowers once they start to wilt but before seeds begin to form. After removing spent flowers, you may notice new green growth. Keep deadheading as needed throughout the flowering season[1].
Decoding Deadheading versus Pruning
While deadheading is a crucial step for repeat blooming, it's essential to note that it's not the same as pruning. Lavender requires regular pruning to maintain its shape and overall health. Pruning should be done annually, starting in the second year. Light pruning can be done at any time, but save the major shaping for the fall after the last flowering. Cut lavender back approximately one third, making sure not to trim below the woody stalks, as they will not regenerate[2].
Unlocking More Lavender with Optimal Care
While knowing how and when to deadhead lavender is crucial, regular care is also essential to creating a bountiful lavender display. In addition to removing spent flowers, consider:
- Watering lavender regularly but ensuring the soil is well-draining to avoid water retention[3]
- Choosing a sunny location for planting lavender to encourage blooming[4]
- Taking care not to over-fertilize lavender, as excessive fertilizing can lead to lush foliage and fewer flowers[4]
- Using bloom-boosting fertilizers early in the growing season to promote stronger stems and more flowers[4]
Uncovering the Longest Blooming Lavender Varieties
A well-chosen lavender variety that thrives in your climate can make all the difference in extending your lavender's blooming season. For example, Spanish lavender blooms twice or even three times throughout the growing season[1]. If you're seeking English or French lavender that naturally blooms more than once per season, consider trying varieties such as Hidcote, Irene Doyle, Grosso, or Goodwin Creek Grey.
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[References]
[1] Bubelis, J. & Luginbuhl, M. (2021). Lavender: Growing & Using: McIntyre-Starisallos (Editors). Detroit, MI: Refer and Hunt Corporation, pp. 60-73.
[2] Care Guide: French Lavender (2023). Our Platform DIY & Gardening. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://www-ourplatform-io.diy.com/projects/flora/french-lavender-care-guide
[3] The Lavender Company (2023). The Lavender Company. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://www.lavendercompany.com/
[4] Lavender: Growing Guide (2023). Hofgarten Centers. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://www.hofgartencenters.com/plants/lavender-growing-guide
- Embrace a charming home-and-garden lifestyle by cultivating a lavish home-and-garden display of lavender, known for their stunning blooms and sweet scent.
- Engage in productive home-and-garden projects, such as deadheading lavender, to encourage repeat blooms and extend the lavender's flowering season throughout your home-and-garden landscaping endeavors.
