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Joined: Oct 2008
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BethL68 Offline OP
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Hi all! I was happy to find this forum today. I am very slowly trying my hand with plantings at our home--please bear with me, I know nothing about any of this.
I'm working away on the computer and see there's a frost/freeze warning tonight for the low 30s (I'm in central IL). I can't tell you much about my soil except it has a lot of clay in it.
For background, last year I decided I wanted lavender (I am including photos because I don't know what variety it is). I planted it, and it did nothing last year and some friends said it needed to be cut back like roses in the fall. So I did, and they died.
This year, I try again, it looks like the same species of plant. They sat all summer, then started shooting up around Labor Day. Now I finally have blooms, and it's getting ready to freeze, LOL. So, should I cut them and if so how far? Do you think these might actually come back? Do these need some special care that I'm not aware of--other people's lavender looks great through the summer!
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Also, if I do cut it, can the sprigs be hung upside down to dry so I can hang them in the house to smell good? Thanks so much for any advice!

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BethL68 Offline OP
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ah, I was reading the other thread which seems to indicate I should not cut til spring. Last year, I covered (the ones that died) with leaves and then covered that loosely with the domes from the grill and from the standing fire pit to keep the leaves over them. Should I go this route again, covering them, but just not cutting them?

loz
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Beth are yours perennials then? Mine don't need anything....they just come back each year......I don't cover them or anything....and I'm in zone 6a.

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BethL68 Offline OP
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I remember the tag said they were perennial (I wish I had saved the tags). On the zone map I am 5b. We get some pretty harsh winds, I'm in a rural subdivision with no wind shelter on the west side where these plants are.

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I am in the same zone as you are, I never cut them back til spring new growth comes on and I only cut off the dead stuff. they should be ok. I have 2 new ones and I plan on jsut lettin them go thru it as they are. I have transplanted one that I had, it went thru fine last season.

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I don't do anything with mine until spring and them I just cut back the obvious dead stuff. I am in zone 4 or 5. It gets pretty cold, we get snow and ice and it is windy.

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Oh, my friend has a beautiful lavender garden outside her house. She cuts back early spring and it always grows back great. She in a zone 7. Doesn't cover or anything, just let's it run.


--Thex
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Beth,
I'm am in central Indiana and we seem to have the same lavender plant. I planted mine two years ago in a flowerbed by the entryway. It started tiny and has now grown to probably 24" or so in diameter. My husband, who thinks it's too big, lopped off the entire side that was overflowing onto the sidewalk with the weed whacker. Yes, I freaked out. BUT..

it did nothing to it. Just cut it back and thin it out by a third as needed in the spring. It looked terrible last winter, covered in ice and snow, but it bounced back with healthy looking foliage.


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