Easy to grow but for a good result lavender is best grown in dry, humus-rich soil in a sunny area and good air circulation. Make sure they have plenty of space as they can reach a width of up to 50 cm. Lavender also looks beautiful trimmed as a low growing hedge. Plant 5 per metre.
Prior to planting soak the roots in a container of lukewarm water for about an hour. Place the roots of the plant at the correct depth in the hole (approx. 5 cm). Fill with soil, press firmly and water immediately after planting

Lavender combines well with roses

Do your roses suffer from aphids? Then you should definitely plant some lavender plants between your roses. They'll not only look great together, but the scent of lavender gets rid of aphids.

With proper care of your lavender you can look forward to a healthy, compact and free-flowering shrub which will bring you lots of enjoyment. Prune twice a year, after flowering and in early or mid-spring after the winter, between mid-March and early April. Cut back flowered shoots to within 2.5 cm (1in) of old growth. This should be done regularly to hedges to prevent them from getting bare at the base.

Prune after flowering

The second pruning should take place after the flowering period, between August and October. During this pruning, remove the faded flowers by cutting them off. The branches can also be trimmed.

Lavender looks lovely when harvested and dried in bunches for ornamental use. To harvest lavender it is best to cut the sprigs off the bush just as the bottom flowers begin to open which is the time when they are most fragrant and should be cut late afternoon. Put them into small bunches and tie each bunch with an elastic band and hang them in a dry place with good air circulation and away from sunlight.