heathers and lavender
 

We have just cleared several larger juniper bushes from a 1 in 6 south facing bank.
I propose to replace with heather and dwarf conifers including juniper in a bed about 20ft square.
My wife would like to include lavender.
Are heathers and lavender incompatible. I know heathers favour very acid soil and lavender is reported to be lime loving.
I have read that the winter heathers can adapt to local soil conditions.
Any ideas fro mixing the two?
The underlying soil is a micaceous clay pH 6 and there is a heather bed about 10yards away similar location with winter flowereing heathers.

In article , david taylor
writes
We have just cleared several larger juniper bushes from a 1 in 6
south facing bank.
I propose to replace with heather and dwarf conifers including
juniper in a bed about 20ft square.
My wife would like to include lavender.
Are heathers and lavender incompatible. I know heathers favour very
acid soil and lavender is reported to be lime loving.
I have read that the winter heathers can adapt to local soil
conditions.
Any ideas fro mixing the two?
The underlying soil is a micaceous clay pH 6 and there is a heather
bed about 10yards away similar location with winter flowereing
heathers.

It's not that heathers 'favour very acid soil' it's more that some of
them do not tolerate alkaline soils.

Neither heather nor conifers appreciate drying out, whereas lavender, as
a basically mediterranean plant, likes a sunny, well-drained situation.
You will be able to grow them both (your soil will be fine for heathers,
and I grow lavender in a slightly acid clay), but you may risk drought
damage to your heathers and conifers in summer, and rotting of your
lavenders in cold wet winters. It will be a bit of a balancing act.


--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Kay Thanks for the information.
Fingers crossed-we live in South Devon with south facing bank. Light,
drainage and moisture are not too much of a problem.
Regards
David
"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , david taylor
writes
We have just cleared several larger juniper bushes from a 1 in 6
south facing bank.
I propose to replace with heather and dwarf conifers including
juniper in a bed about 20ft square.
My wife would like to include lavender.
Are heathers and lavender incompatible. I know heathers favour very
acid soil and lavender is reported to be lime loving.
I have read that the winter heathers can adapt to local soil
conditions.
Any ideas fro mixing the two?
The underlying soil is a micaceous clay pH 6 and there is a heather
bed about 10yards away similar location with winter flowereing
heathers.

It's not that heathers 'favour very acid soil' it's more that some of
them do not tolerate alkaline soils.

Neither heather nor conifers appreciate drying out, whereas lavender, as
a basically mediterranean plant, likes a sunny, well-drained situation.
You will be able to grow them both (your soil will be fine for heathers,
and I grow lavender in a slightly acid clay), but you may risk drought
damage to your heathers and conifers in summer, and rotting of your
lavenders in cold wet winters. It will be a bit of a balancing act.


--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"