Lavender - planting, care and cultivation

In ancient times, lavender flowers were added to the water for ablutions to make it fresh and fragrant. Growing this dacha in the country, you can take lavender baths at home, strengthening health and nervous system.

Biology

Lavender is the inhabitant of the south, but if you find a suitable place in the garden, it can grow in temperate latitudes. The flower belongs to the evergreen perennials. Depending on the variety, the height of the bush can be from 30 to 80 cm.

The root of lavender is fleshy, rough. Lower shoots with time woody, the upper ones remain green, flexible. Leaves are narrow, arranged in pairs.

The plant is photophilous, well tolerates heat and drought. It should be planted on sunny areas, where there are no drafts and strong winds.

Some varieties even in the open place tolerate frosts to -25. However, most varieties are thermophilic and need winter shelter.

On heavy and acidic soils, lavender grows poorly and quickly freezes. It should be planted on the crooked, dry, sandy or even gravel substrates with a small amount of organic matter.

Preparation of lavender for planting

Lavender can be propagated:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• division of the bush.

Seeds stratify for 35 days at a temperature of +5. Sow at the end of February or beginning of March in seedlings in grooves 3 mm deep. For germination, they need light and a temperature of 16-20 degrees.

Seedlings are best to dig at a distance of 5 cm. Once the soil warms up, the seedlings can be determined to a permanent place.

To propagation by green cuttings begin in the first half of summer. From the plant cut cuttings about 10 cm long and remove the lower leaves on them. Cut the cuttings dipped in Kornevin and planted in a mini-greenhouse or a greenhouse.

Cuttings will take root about a month. Rooting is on average 60%.

By the division of the bush, the plant begins to be prepared from autumn. In the last days of October, the stems are cut off, leaving 8-10 cm from the root, and gently ground with earth, making sure that the space between the cut-off stems is filled with a substrate.

In the spring, more land is sprinkled, covering the bush "with the head". The plant will give a thick shoot, which in a year can be separated and planted in a permanent place.

Planting lavender into the open ground

Each lavender plant lives about 10 years and very badly tolerates transplantation. Therefore, the place for the flower should be chosen once and for all.

Soil should be prepared very carefully. The square meter is made:

• a glass of pussy;
• 10 kg of overgrown manure;
• 5 tablespoons of superphosphate;
• 2 tablespoons of potassium salt.

The distance between the seedlings should be equal to the height of the adult plant. If the height of the variety is unknown, leave 50 cm between the bunches.

Care and cultivation of lavender

Care of the flower consists of weeding. In August, after flowering, the bush is cut slightly, removing the thickening center of the shoot from its base. You can not cut all the current growth and leave only lignified shoots - the plant will then die.

For the winter, lavender can cover lavender. Especially in need of warming young plants. Old bushes, even if frozen, will be able to recover from the underground kidney in the spring.

Watering

For lavender requires a special water regime. Plants drought-resistant, but strong drying of the soil can not be tolerated. At the same time, the roots of lavender are very sensitive to dampness and die with the slightest waterlogging.

It is best to water the ground as soon as it dries out at a depth of 5 cm. To check the moisture, it is enough to make a depression in the soil at a distance of 10 cm from the bush.