Lavender is a Mediterranean staple, but it’s also one of the most common perennials in the UK. Right now, they’re bursting into bloom all over the country – and if you know what to do with lavender in June, those flowers will last all summer.
Learning how to grow lavender is actually really easy because it’s low-maintenance and really drought-tolerant. In June, it’s more about maintaining the plant’s health than giving it any extravagant care. In fact, less is more this month.
Here’s what you should be doing with lavender in June to get the best out of the scented perennials.
What you’ll need
Gardening Express
Lavendula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’
One of the most popular English lavender varieties.
Draper
Draper Carbon Steel Heavy Duty Hand Weeder
A heavy duty weeding tool for all kinds of weeding tasks.
Kimura
Kimura® 8″ Pro Pruning Scissors
For very light summer tidying!
1. Keep watering to a minimum
Temperatures are set to rise again next week, but climate-resilient plants like lavender don’t need as much water as you might think.
Since lavender is one of the best drought-tolerant plants out there, it actually doesn’t need too much hydration to survive.
‘Water sparingly, only when the top few centimetres of soil have dried out, and always at the base rather than over the foliage,’ says Annelise Brilli, Thompson & Morgan’s horticultural expert. ‘Established plants in the ground rarely need watering unless there is a prolonged dry spell.’
You’ll just need to be a little more attentive during heatwaves, especially if you’re growing lavender in pots.
2. Make sure it’s receiving plenty of sun
Lavender is a classic Mediterranean garden plant, which means it loves the sunshine. It’ll actually flower best in full sun, so if you’re growing container lavender in a shady spot, it’s wise to move it into a sunnier part of the garden.
‘In most cases, if your lavender is in a sunny spot and looks healthy, the best thing you can do is let it get on with it,’ says Jo McGarry, a leading expert in luxury garden design from Caragh Nurseries.
If you’re looking to expand your lavender collection, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Arctic Snow’, which you can order from Crocus, produces stunning white flowers.
3. Remove weeds
It’s true that lavender is really low-maintenance, but few plants out there enjoy keeping weeds as company.
‘At this time of year, it’s more about making sure it’s getting plenty of sunshine and isn’t being crowded by weeds or other plants,’ says Jo.
A weeder like this Draper Carbon Steel Heavy Duty Hand Weeder from Amazon is ideal for keeping on top of any competition, but there are plenty of other natural ways to get rid of weeds in the garden.
4. Prune lightly (if you have to!)
If you’re thinking about learning how to prune lavender, June might not be the month for it. According to Jo, it’s best to leave the plants to their own devices this month, since they’re already coming into bloom.
‘If there are a few dead bits or stray stems sticking out, feel free to tidy those up, but I’d leave any proper pruning until after flowering,’ advises Jo. ‘Cutting it back too early can mean missing out on some of the best parts of the display.’
So, ultra-light tidying is acceptable, but any hard pruning is a total no-no.
‘Never cut into old, woody stems, as lavender rarely regrows from old wood and hard pruning can permanently damage the plant,’ adds Annelise.
Add these pointers to your list of June garden jobs for lavender plants that thrive all summer.
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