Again and again the advice can be read that lavender must be fertilized every two weeks - preferably with conventional flower fertilizer. However, this information - as widespread as it is - is wrong. In its Mediterranean homeland, lavender thrives on very poor, often stony soil. Regular fertilization - especially with nitrogenous fertilizers - only ensures that the plant appears to grow splendidly at first, but then dies due to over-fertilization.

Prepare soil before planting

In order for the lavender to thrive in your garden, it needs the conditions known from its homeland. In addition to a sunny location, this also includes a permeable, sandy soil if possible. The plant also grows well on stony substrates, which is why seedlings can often be found in the cracks between paving stones. Heavy, loamy soils are not suitable for planting lavender and should first be improved according to the requirements. If you have such a garden soil, you can loosen it up with plenty of sand, expanded clay, brick chippings and the like. This is particularly important for the drainage of rainwater, because lavender does not like waterlogging. The Mediterranean plant, which prefers an alkaline pH value, does not like acidic soils either. But these substrates can usually be improved with powdered rock or clay. You can also work a little compost or manure and lime into the soil before planting - unless you want to plant French lavender, in which case you can do without the lime.

Only fertilize planted lavender once a year

In principle, lavender planted in the garden needs to be fertilized a maximum of once or twice a year. The broad and very deep roots of lavender draw sufficient nutrients from the soil. Fertilize the garden lavender at most at the beginning of the vegetation period - i.e. in March / April - with a little lime and a low-nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen - which is also found in stable manure, guano (121.99€) and many commercially available flower fertilizers - only promotes the bareness of the plant and should therefore be used as sparingly as possible. You should also avoid mulch material such as bark mulch, as this stores too much moisture. On the other hand, you can keep rampant weeds at bay by planting the lavender in a bed of gravel.

Potted lavender needs more intensive care

In contrast to the garden lavender, the pot lavender requires a little more intensive care, which also includes more frequent watering (in principle, planted lavender does not have to be watered at all) and occasional fertilizer application. But you don't have to fertilize every two weeks here either, because one dose at the beginning of the growing season and another in June / July are usually sufficient. In addition, potted lavender should be transplanted into fresh substrate and a larger container at least once a year so that the plant has enough space. Lavender that is crammed into a pot that is too small often does not flower or only very poorly.

tips and tricks

Lavender roots need space and plenty of air. Keep the soil around the plant loose and pull out weeds in good time. You can also put pebbles or shell limestone on the ground - just not with the French lavender, which does not tolerate lime.

IJA

Category:

Herbs