Create a Classic English Country Garden by Planting Lavender Now
If you are dreaming of transforming your outdoor space into a picturesque slice of the English countryside this summer, there is one essential flower you must plant immediately. Spring presents the perfect opportunity to begin cultivating your ideal summer garden, with a vast array of blooms available at local garden centres. However, for those seeking an authentic English cottage aesthetic, lavender stands out as the quintessential choice.
The Quintessential English Flower for Summer Borders
Lavender is celebrated as the quintessentially English garden flower, renowned for its stunning purple hues and aromatic presence. Planting it now can yield a magnificent hedge that bursts into colour by summer, enhancing paths, raised beds, or borders with a touch of rustic charm. According to gardening expert Adam Kirtland, known online as View From The Potting Bench, a lavender hedge not only delivers spectacular visual appeal but also serves as a vital pollinator plant, attracting bees and other beneficial insects.
In a recent social media video, Adam emphasised, "There's nothing that says quintessential English garden more than a lavender hedge. It looks fantastic along a path, a raised bed, or a border." He recommends considering different lavender varieties to suit specific garden conditions, noting his personal preference for Hidcote, also called English lavender, which he describes as a bushy evergreen shrub.
Choosing Between Established Plants and Plug Plants
Garden centres typically offer established lavender plants during this season, ready for immediate transplantation into your soil where they will gradually expand. For those on a budget, plug plants provide a cost-effective alternative. These juvenile seedlings or cuttings, grown in compact cells, represent a middle ground between sowing seeds and purchasing mature specimens. While they require patience as they develop, often delaying blooms until the following year, they allow gardeners to stretch their funds further.
Adam advises, "If you're on a budget and you're happy to wait, use these instead. Plug plants are a great way to save money in your garden and make your money go further." When planting, ensure full sun exposure, as lavender thrives in Mediterranean-like conditions. Space plugs approximately 30 centimetres apart to allow for growth, using common garden tools to measure the distance accurately.
Essential Care Tips for Thriving Lavender
To ensure your lavender hedge flourishes, follow these key guidelines:
- Plant in the Right Location: Choose a spot with at least six hours of daily sunlight and provide ample space for airflow to prevent fungal issues.
- Use Free-Draining Soil: Lavender dislikes wet roots, especially in winter. In heavy or clay soil, incorporate grit or sharp sand, or plant on a slight mound. Mulch with gravel rather than compost to keep the crown dry.
- Water Sparingly: New plants require regular watering for the first few weeks to establish roots. Once established, water only during prolonged dry spells. For potted lavender, water when the top compost feels dry and avoid letting the pot sit in water.
- Avoid Overfeeding: Lavender prefers poor to moderately fertile soil. If necessary, apply a light spring feed, but steer clear of high-nitrogen fertilisers that can cause soft, leggy growth.
- Prune Annually: Prune after flowering in late summer or in early spring, trimming back about one-third to maintain a neat, rounded shape. Avoid cutting into old brown wood without green growth, as lavender may not regenerate.
- Deadhead for More Blooms: Remove spent flower stems to encourage repeat flowering and keep plants tidy.
- Protect from Winter Wet: While cold is less problematic, waterlogged soil can be detrimental. Improve drainage and, for potted plants, move to a sheltered area during extended rainy periods.
By adhering to these practices, you can cultivate a vibrant lavender hedge that embodies the idyllic English countryside, transforming your garden into a summer sanctuary.
