The Mediterranean Summer festival at Kew ran during the summer of
2007. Lavender - Growing
Lavandula stoechas subsp. stoechas 'Kew Red'
Lavenders grow best when planted in a free draining soil in a sunny spot. They benefit greatly from a good pruning each year.
Pruning promotes new healthy growth and a plant that is more compact. It also means that the plant can cope with adverse weather conditions, as well as pests and diseases, and also means it will generally live longer.
Lavenders need pruning every year as soon as the flowers go over (usually mid August). Remove approximately two thirds of the growth but never prune into old wood, only prune back new growth leaving neat leafy hummocks.
If a summer prune is not possible you can prune in early spring but only after the chance of hard frosts is over and the plant has started to put out new shoots.
If the plant is old and leggy you can prune to within a hands-width of the old wood to encourage new shoots.
Hardy lavenders include Lavandula angustifolia , and the hybrid L. x intermedia. Frost hardy lavenders include L. stoechas, L. pendunculata, L.latifolia, and L. x chaytorae. There are also many half-hardy lavenders and tender lavenders.
Lavenders are best propagated from cuttings. Hardwood cuttings can be taken in early autumn while softwood cuttings can be taken in spring or early autumn. Cuttings need to bedded in well drained compost. Softwood cuttings also benefit from warm conditions and humidity so using an electric propagator is advisable.
(The Genus Lavandula: Tim Upson & Susyn Andrews)
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