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