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22 March, 2011

Border of Lavender

We put in a line of 75 Lavender plants in August 2010.  Before then it was just a new lawn, needing a border to separate it visually from the field.
23rd July 2010.  What we had.

What we are seeking of course is perfection.  We would like our lawn like the one below, lined with lavender to outline the boundary, and to separate the plantings behind. 
What we would like.  But not my photo.  Nor our property
The new lavenders are 'super' variety which will grow really quite large.  With long flower stalks.  Planted in a single long row at 900 centers they will grow into each other.  There will be a long row of lavender winding around the edge of the lawn.  Eventually.

First what we got was small 100mm lavenders growing out of black weedmat, with a prominent irrigation tube.  75 meters of it.  Really ugly. 
New lavender border.  28th August 2010
Spring came and then summer with very pleasing growth.  Every single plant.
January 2011.  Nice size in five months.  About 1.5 doggies tall
The idea is for them to form a big combined row or hedge barrier.  It certainly looks like it's going to work out.
Lavender border.  Growing together into a good row.
The plants were supplied by Karen Rhind of Briar Dell, a 'Garden of National Significance' a couple of kilometers up the road.   http://www.nzsouth.co.nz/briardell/lavenderfarm.html   Because of the season, Karen advised to cut them back early to enhance future growth and bushiness.
Late January 2011.  Cut back to encourage further growth.
These now are all set to consolidate over the year and next season will be fantastic.  I look forward to Christmas (our summer) when these will come into flower.  And it seems the flowers will last a very long time each year.

Update:

Lavender border.  27th November 2011.  15 months after planting.
 It's coming into summer here and it's been warm, wet and sunny.  All of those have made for a rare season of high growth here.  There has been a burst of growth in the last three weeks and that will continue for two or three months yet.

Lavender border.  27th November 2011.
I can't wait until Christmas and the New Year.  These Lavender will be in magnificent bloom then.  And I can't wait to see if each plant will join up with the others this year.  These 'super' lavender will grow large, perhaps a meter high and outwards.  I really want this row to be a big long hedge and I am waiting to see it.


Lavender border.  31st December 2011.  16 months since planting.
18th January 2012.  Theresa prunes back the Lavender.
The Summer of 2012 and 2013 was a dry and hot, great for the lavender. 
Lavender border.  Dark Blue.  February 2013
Some Lavender plants grew together.  Some have yet to meet.
Lavender border.  February 2013
That's the update to 2013.   More to follow.  There's a few years left in this story yet.
But end for now


Posted by The Field of Gold at 8:05 AM
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7 comments:

  1. Vince22 March, 2011

    I lovely idea.
    A tip.
    The matting will become unsightly very quickly indeed, three years tops. The sun will split ever the most UV repellent one you can buy. And the pea-gravel wont save it either. Keep an eye out for mushroom farmers. They are always trying to find ways to rid themselves of old compost. The lavenders will thank you for it.

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  2. The Field of Gold22 March, 2011

    Vince you are exactly correct. The plan is to pull the weedmat out at about 2-3 years. As it starts to come apart. At that time the lavenders will be quite big. And these are big ones - much more than a meter quite soon. They will surpress anything underneath in the usual light competition. If I get it right they will require very little understory weeding. If any. Kerry

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  3. Anonymous22 March, 2011

    Ooh, la,la, that looks great! And I agree, if you do pull up the mat and add 3" of mulch, it will really cut down on weeds and the weeds that do come will be easily pulled.

    We have access to lots of mulch here in the way of pine chips and pine needles(which I use on slopes, not walking paths,..it's slippery) and I hardly had to do any weeding last year. I was amazed.

    That border looks great and the dark purple contrasts nicely with Doggie.

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  4. Vince22 March, 2011

    The trick with the mushy compost is that its alkaline. Being made up of horseshit, straw and a dusting of chalk, sometimes soil but rarely. So it's absolutely ideal for Lavenders and the like. Putting anything else will cause them to shrivel up, never mind the cost causing the wallet to go likewise.

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  5. Megan Moth03 April, 2011

    Just a comment from little old London, Mrs Field of gold has certainly moved on from succulents in pots !!!!!!!!!!!!! I can only guess that is under the wise guidance of Mr Feild of Gold. PS Get a sav in the fridge I will be there Summer 2011/12 to peruse and give my guidance on all things botanical xxxxxxxxx

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  6. Window On The Prairie08 April, 2011

    I love lavender, but have never had much luck with it. Yours looks great. It will be so beautiful next summer.
    Suzanne

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  7. Sue Langley02 April, 2013

    Kerry and Theresa, you sure have done a great job with this! Lavender lemonade, lavender cookies, lavender ant repellant, lavender wands and sachets... winter projects.

    Brilliant!

    ReplyDelete

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