On Oct 27, 5:12*pm, Sacha wrote:
On 2009-10-27 16:39:28 +0000, Judith in France
said:



On Oct 27, 2:22*pm, Kate Brown wrote:
On Tue, 27 Oct 2009, Judith in France wrote

On Oct 26, 7:18*pm, Kate Brown wrote:
On Mon, 26 Oct 2009, *wrote

I have a couple of lavender in big pots outside my front door, but th
ey
haven't been watered as well as they probably should. *They've been
*there
for 2 years and they didn't flower very well this year. *(they don'
t get
an amazing amount of light, and I'm terrible for remembering to water
,
and being by the front door they don't get much natural rain, on the
rare occasions it bothers to rain atm!)

I've just chopped them back quite a bit tonight (got to love the
gardening in the dark process at this time of year!) but they are ....
straggley looking and quite woody. *How far should I cut them back?
**I
don't want to kill them, but if they're only going to perform as well
*as
this year (or worse) it might be better if I chuck them and get
something new for next year.

Any advice from lavender experts appreciated (other than "remember to
water them occasionally!" - I already got that one!)

Thanks

Am v far from being an expert, but have had good results with lavender
*-
not in pots but in the infrequently watered front garden. I've been
cutting back a bit but not viciously, then waiting until spring to see
where the sprouts are sprouting from. It's standard to say don't cut
into the woody stem, but if there are good little sprouts coming out o
f
the woody bases then once they look established we've been cutting bac
k
fairly hard. *That means by about March we've been able to cut off a
ll
last year's straggly bits, leaving a fresh growth that has grown and
flowered through until September.

This didn't work with some lavender (same variety) we had in France,
which had just gone a bit too far. *We cut back as in England, but t
here
were no sprouts from the woody stems, and the plants remained very
straggly and not very elegant, even when in full bloom. *However, th
e
bees still adored them!

--
Kate B

PS 'elvira' is spamtrapped - please reply to 'elviraspam' at
cockaigne dot org dot uk if you
want to reply personally

Once, years ago I hacked at a low Lavender hedge that was out of
control, I took it down substantially, it never recovered, it
remained, straggly.

That's right, you have to wait until early spring to see - if they are
producing sprigs from the woody base, you can cut down to just above
those. *Keep an eye out. *It surprised me to see this happen the firs
t
time as I thought the woody bits would remain bare. *The plants were
about three years old then. *I've never spotted such sprigs on the
lavender we have in France, but that may be because we aren't there
quite early enough in the year (ancient cottage means ancient drafts and
no central heating!) - it's possible that it sprouts but the sprouts die
off.

--
Kate B

PS 'elvira' is spamtrapped - please reply to 'elviraspam' at cockaigne do
t org dot uk if you
want to reply personally

Interesting Kate, I'll bear that in mind for the next lavender hedge.
I lost a beautiful lavender last year, a French one, I have no idea
why.

Judith

Possibly too tender for your altitude in winter? *It's not as tough as
some. *I think that if I were you, I'd grow it in well-drained pots
then bring it into a frost-free but light place for the winter. * And
there's always the possibility that if it did survive the cold, its
roots would rot off as the snow melts. *Some friends of mine in another
part of France had an Albizia julibrissin for many years but lost it
that way after exceptional snow falls that took a long time to melt. *
Its roots were too wet for far too long.
--
Sachawww.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

I've got to the stage now Sacha that if it doesn't survive the Winter
then maybe it's not for me. I will soon be time to bring in some
plants and some are in huge pots, remember the Oleander? I'm
wondering, thread drift here, if I protected the pot and plant whether
it would make it through? I couldn't bear to lose it as it was bought
for us as a welcome to the village.

Judith

On 2009-10-28 17:41:04 +0000, Judith in France
said:

On Oct 27, 5:12*pm, Sacha wrote:
On 2009-10-27 16:39:28 +0000, Judith in France
said:



On Oct 27, 2:22*pm, Kate Brown wrote:
On Tue, 27 Oct 2009, Judith in France wrote

On Oct 26, 7:18*pm, Kate Brown wrote:
On Mon, 26 Oct 2009, *wrote

I have a couple of lavender in big pots outside my front door, but
th
ey
haven't been watered as well as they probably should. *They've be
en
*there
for 2 years and they didn't flower very well this year. *(they do
n'
t get
an amazing amount of light, and I'm terrible for remembering to wat
er
,
and being by the front door they don't get much natural rain, on th
e
rare occasions it bothers to rain atm!)

I've just chopped them back quite a bit tonight (got to love the
gardening in the dark process at this time of year!) but they are .
..
straggley looking and quite woody. *How far should I cut them bac
k?
**I
don't want to kill them, but if they're only going to perform as we
ll
*as
this year (or worse) it might be better if I chuck them and get
something new for next year.

Any advice from lavender experts appreciated (other than "remember
to
water them occasionally!" - I already got that one!)

Thanks

Am v far from being an expert, but have had good results with lavend
er
*-
not in pots but in the infrequently watered front garden. I've been
cutting back a bit but not viciously, then waiting until spring to s
ee
where the sprouts are sprouting from. It's standard to say don't cut
into the woody stem, but if there are good little sprouts coming out
o
f
the woody bases then once they look established we've been cutting b
ac
k
fairly hard. *That means by about March we've been able to cut off
a
ll
last year's straggly bits, leaving a fresh growth that has grown and
flowered through until September.

This didn't work with some lavender (same variety) we had in France,
which had just gone a bit too far. *We cut back as in England, but
t
here
were no sprouts from the woody stems, and the plants remained very
straggly and not very elegant, even when in full bloom. *However,
th
e
bees still adored them!

--
Kate B

PS 'elvira' is spamtrapped - please reply to 'elviraspam' at
cockaigne dot org dot uk if you
want to reply personally

Once, years ago I hacked at a low Lavender hedge that was out of
control, I took it down substantially, it never recovered, it
remained, straggly.

That's right, you have to wait until early spring to see - if they are
producing sprigs from the woody base, you can cut down to just above
those. *Keep an eye out. *It surprised me to see this happen the f
irs
t
time as I thought the woody bits would remain bare. *The plants were
about three years old then. *I've never spotted such sprigs on the
lavender we have in France, but that may be because we aren't there
quite early enough in the year (ancient cottage means ancient drafts a
nd
no central heating!) - it's possible that it sprouts but the sprouts d
ie
off.

--
Kate B

PS 'elvira' is spamtrapped - please reply to 'elviraspam' at cockaigne
do
t org dot uk if you
want to reply personally

Interesting Kate, I'll bear that in mind for the next lavender hedge.
I lost a beautiful lavender last year, a French one, I have no idea
why.

Judith

Possibly too tender for your altitude in winter? *It's not as tough as
some. *I think that if I were you, I'd grow it in well-drained pots
then bring it into a frost-free but light place for the winter. * And
there's always the possibility that if it did survive the cold, its
roots would rot off as the snow melts. *Some friends of mine in another
part of France had an Albizia julibrissin for many years but lost it
that way after exceptional snow falls that took a long time to melt. *
Its roots were too wet for far too long.
--
Sachawww.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

I've got to the stage now Sacha that if it doesn't survive the Winter
then maybe it's not for me. I will soon be time to bring in some
plants and some are in huge pots, remember the Oleander? I'm
wondering, thread drift here, if I protected the pot and plant whether
it would make it through? I couldn't bear to lose it as it was bought
for us as a welcome to the village.

Judith

You need an old-fashioned porters' trolley. I don't know how we come
to have one but that's what most large pots get moved on here.
However, the new fork lift arrived today and Ray came in and said "is
there anything you want moved?" ;-))
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

"Judith in France" wrote in message
...
On Oct 27, 5:04 pm, "Spider" wrote:
"Judith in France" wrote in
...
On Oct 27, 2:22 pm, Kate Brown wrote:



On Tue, 27 Oct 2009, Judith in France wrote

On Oct 26, 7:18 pm, Kate Brown wrote:
On Mon, 26 Oct 2009, wrote

I have a couple of lavender in big pots outside my front door, but
they
haven't been watered as well as they probably should. They've been
there
for 2 years and they didn't flower very well this year. (they don't
get
an amazing amount of light, and I'm terrible for remembering to
water,
and being by the front door they don't get much natural rain, on the
rare occasions it bothers to rain atm!)

I've just chopped them back quite a bit tonight (got to love the
gardening in the dark process at this time of year!) but they are
...
straggley looking and quite woody. How far should I cut them back? I
don't want to kill them, but if they're only going to perform as
well
as
this year (or worse) it might be better if I chuck them and get
something new for next year.

Any advice from lavender experts appreciated (other than "remember
to
water them occasionally!" - I already got that one!)

Thanks

Am v far from being an expert, but have had good results with
lavender -
not in pots but in the infrequently watered front garden. I've been
cutting back a bit but not viciously, then waiting until spring to
see
where the sprouts are sprouting from. It's standard to say don't cut
into the woody stem, but if there are good little sprouts coming out
of
the woody bases then once they look established we've been cutting
back
fairly hard. That means by about March we've been able to cut off all
last year's straggly bits, leaving a fresh growth that has grown and
flowered through until September.

This didn't work with some lavender (same variety) we had in France,
which had just gone a bit too far. We cut back as in England, but
there
were no sprouts from the woody stems, and the plants remained very
straggly and not very elegant, even when in full bloom. However, the
bees still adored them!

--
Kate B

PS 'elvira' is spamtrapped - please reply to 'elviraspam' at
cockaigne dot org dot uk if you
want to reply personally

Once, years ago I hacked at a low Lavender hedge that was out of
control, I took it down substantially, it never recovered, it
remained, straggly.

That's right, you have to wait until early spring to see - if they are
producing sprigs from the woody base, you can cut down to just above
those. Keep an eye out. It surprised me to see this happen the first
time as I thought the woody bits would remain bare. The plants were
about three years old then. I've never spotted such sprigs on the
lavender we have in France, but that may be because we aren't there
quite early enough in the year (ancient cottage means ancient drafts and
no central heating!) - it's possible that it sprouts but the sprouts die
off.

--
Kate B

PS 'elvira' is spamtrapped - please reply to 'elviraspam' at cockaigne
dot
org dot uk if you
want to reply personally

Interesting Kate, I'll bear that in mind for the next lavender hedge.
I lost a beautiful lavender last year, a French one, I have no idea
why.

Judith

Hi Judith,

The French lavender, L. Stoechas, is less hardy than the English type.
Your
garden was under snow last winter, if you remember, so I think that is
your
explanation.

Spider

Aah so that's it. The garden is under snow every year some more than
others!

Judith

Mmm .. you'd think French lavender would be able to cope with French
weather, wouldn't you?! OTOH, France is somewhat bigger than GB and we
have a varied enough temperature range. Perhaps we're just asking too much
of it.

Spider

Slightly off theme,
but what is the best way of planting a low lavender hedge?

I tried getting one rather bushy lavender plant
and splitting it up, but the bits did not take.


--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail: gayleard /at/ eircom.net
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

On 2009-10-29 02:55:11 +0000, Timothy Murphy said:

Slightly off theme,
but what is the best way of planting a low lavender hedge?

I tried getting one rather bushy lavender plant
and splitting it up, but the bits did not take.

Try planting L. angustifolia but see if you can get it from somewhere
that either specialises in lavenders, or is doing a 'deal'. If you're
planting it as a low hedge, it looks rather attractive to put one the
taller types at each end as a sort of punctuation point.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Spider wrote:
Mmm .. you'd think French lavender would be able to cope with French
weather, wouldn't you?! OTOH, France is somewhat bigger than GB and we
have a varied enough temperature range. Perhaps we're just asking too much
of it.

On the way back from holiday this summer I took the train from Nice to
Paris, and it was really odd watching the landscape slowly morph from
Med-looking up to English-looking the nearer Paris we got. You could
actually see the shape and colour of the flora getting more ... homely
as you watched.

On 2009-10-29 11:46:17 +0000, said:

Spider wrote:
Mmm .. you'd think French lavender would be able to cope with French
weather, wouldn't you?! OTOH, France is somewhat bigger than GB and we
have a varied enough temperature range. Perhaps we're just asking too much
of it.

On the way back from holiday this summer I took the train from Nice to
Paris, and it was really odd watching the landscape slowly morph from
Med-looking up to English-looking the nearer Paris we got. You could
actually see the shape and colour of the flora getting more ... homely
as you watched.

It's strange you say that because last time we were in France, I said
to my husband that I feel more 'at home' in Brittany and Normady than I
do in e.g. Provence. I love the sunshine and general ambience of
Provence but it does feel more 'foreign'. Partly - for me - that's
because I've sailed to the Breton and Normandy coasts quite often but
also because long-ago genes are probably still swishing around but Ray
felt exactly the same and I think it must be because the landscape etc.
becomes more familiar.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

On Thu, 29 Oct 2009 Sacha wrote:

Mmm .. you'd think French lavender would be able to cope with French
weather, wouldn't you?! OTOH, France is somewhat bigger than GB and we
have a varied enough temperature range. Perhaps we're just asking too much
of it.
On the way back from holiday this summer I took the train from Nice
to
Paris, and it was really odd watching the landscape slowly morph from
Med-looking up to English-looking the nearer Paris we got. You could
actually see the shape and colour of the flora getting more ... homely
as you watched.

It's strange you say that because last time we were in France, I said
to my husband that I feel more 'at home' in Brittany and Normady than I
do in e.g. Provence. I love the sunshine and general ambience of
Provence but it does feel more 'foreign'. Partly - for me - that's
because I've sailed to the Breton and Normandy coasts quite often but
also because long-ago genes are probably still swishing around but Ray
felt exactly the same and I think it must be because the landscape etc.
becomes more familiar.

Exactly that. I'm a native of the Chilterns and now have a house in the
Suisse Normande. The countryside of both is very similar with beech
woods, etc.

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

On 2009-10-29 13:35:10 +0000, David Rance
said:

On Thu, 29 Oct 2009 Sacha wrote:

Mmm .. you'd think French lavender would be able to cope with French
weather, wouldn't you?! OTOH, France is somewhat bigger than GB and we
have a varied enough temperature range. Perhaps we're just asking too much
of it.
On the way back from holiday this summer I took the train from Nice to
Paris, and it was really odd watching the landscape slowly morph from
Med-looking up to English-looking the nearer Paris we got. You could
actually see the shape and colour of the flora getting more ... homely
as you watched.

It's strange you say that because last time we were in France, I said
to my husband that I feel more 'at home' in Brittany and Normady than I
do in e.g. Provence. I love the sunshine and general ambience of
Provence but it does feel more 'foreign'. Partly - for me - that's
because I've sailed to the Breton and Normandy coasts quite often but
also because long-ago genes are probably still swishing around but Ray
felt exactly the same and I think it must be because the landscape etc.
becomes more familiar.

Exactly that. I'm a native of the Chilterns and now have a house in the
Suisse Normande. The countryside of both is very similar with beech
woods, etc.

David

Brittany is very like Jersey as to coastline and Normandy is another
version of Devon.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

On Thu, 29 Oct 2009 Sacha wrote:

On 2009-10-29 13:35:10 +0000, David Rance
said:

On Thu, 29 Oct 2009 Sacha wrote:

Mmm .. you'd think French lavender would be able to cope with
French
weather, wouldn't you?! OTOH, France is somewhat bigger than GB and we
have a varied enough temperature range. Perhaps we're just asking
too much
of it.
On the way back from holiday this summer I took the train from Nice to
Paris, and it was really odd watching the landscape slowly morph from
Med-looking up to English-looking the nearer Paris we got. You could
actually see the shape and colour of the flora getting more ... homely
as you watched.
It's strange you say that because last time we were in France, I
said to my husband that I feel more 'at home' in Brittany and Normady
I do in e.g. Provence. I love the sunshine and general ambience of
Provence but it does feel more 'foreign'. Partly - for me - that's
because I've sailed to the Breton and Normandy coasts quite often but
also because long-ago genes are probably still swishing around but
Ray felt exactly the same and I think it must be because the
landscape etc. becomes more familiar.
Exactly that. I'm a native of the Chilterns and now have a house in
the Suisse Normande. The countryside of both is very similar with
beech woods, etc.
David

Brittany is very like Jersey as to coastline and Normandy is another
version of Devon.

Hmm, well I always associate Devon with red sandstone but I suppose that
west Devon and Cornwall have similar stone to the Suisse Normande.

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

On 2009-10-29 22:48:59 +0000, David Rance
said:

On Thu, 29 Oct 2009 Sacha wrote:

On 2009-10-29 13:35:10 +0000, David Rance
said:

On Thu, 29 Oct 2009 Sacha wrote:

Mmm .. you'd think French lavender would be able to cope with French
weather, wouldn't you?! OTOH, France is somewhat bigger than GB and we
have a varied enough temperature range. Perhaps we're just asking too much
of it.
On the way back from holiday this summer I took the train from Nice to
Paris, and it was really odd watching the landscape slowly morph from
Med-looking up to English-looking the nearer Paris we got. You could
actually see the shape and colour of the flora getting more ... homely
as you watched.
It's strange you say that because last time we were in France, I said
to my husband that I feel more 'at home' in Brittany and Normady I do
in e.g. Provence. I love the sunshine and general ambience of Provence
but it does feel more 'foreign'. Partly - for me - that's because I've
sailed to the Breton and Normandy coasts quite often but also because
long-ago genes are probably still swishing around but Ray felt exactly
the same and I think it must be because the landscape etc. becomes
more familiar.
Exactly that. I'm a native of the Chilterns and now have a house in
the Suisse Normande. The countryside of both is very similar with beech
woods, etc.
David

Brittany is very like Jersey as to coastline and Normandy is another
version of Devon.

Hmm, well I always associate Devon with red sandstone but I suppose
that west Devon and Cornwall have similar stone to the Suisse Normande.

David

Lots of Devon does have red soil but not round us. Moving further over
towards Torquay, some of the fields are bright red, especially after
rain.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon