[Smiling Sal]

Can anybody help me with my lavender?

Last year it looked lovely nice and bushy like it should. This year though it has split and all teh flowers are on 3 straggly branches. All the flowers are the end of these branches leaving lots of 'wood' stem with nothing on it, no buds or anything. Looks awful - smells great

If I cut it back at the end of the summer will that encourage it to grow back more bushy next year. Also I want to move it to a pot as I am getting rid of the flower bed it is in, is the end of the summer the best time to move it or should I do it in early spring next year ?

The soil it is currently growing in is good, but is only about 8 inches deep as the house is built on an old foundry and the garden has been built up on top of the concrete base by previous owners - think I may have answered my own question there - does the lavender need more soil to spread it roots out ???

Does anybody have green fingers out there ?All advice greatly appreciated.

[veggie]

I know nothing about gardening sorry.

[Smiling Sal]

I know nothing too, that's how I have this half dead lavender and also why I am getting rid of the flower bed.

[poohshunny]

Hi,
You might try doing a search for gardening sites that have message boards. Birds and Blooms Online has a message board, I think.
I have no idea what could be causing the problem with your lavender. I do know that we are having lots of grasshopper problems here in OK that eat the leaves right off everything and leave the plants looking terrible.

[Tizme2000]

Hi,

Lavender does tend to make wood so really the best thing to do is to cut right back after each flowering. It is really very easy to take cutting of Lavender just rip a bit of the stem with a heel on do several at the same time. Get a very small pot with compost and place all your cutting round the edge of pot use powder to get them started if you wish but I do not bother. Keep them watered and in a sunny place and they will all make new plants for you. I replace my lavender about every three to four years anyway as it only goes leggy. Hope this helps a bit gardening is my other passion apart from painting flowers whiiich I do all the time and sea scapes.
Vivienne

[Smiling Sal]

Thanks Vivienne it is about 4 years old - will try and take a cutting off it and see if I can get a lovely new bush for next summer