Why Planting Several Types of Lavender is a Good Thing
As you may remember from the last few weeks of posts, I’ve been on a mission to simplify our landscape design. I no longer want to deadhead flowers, divide, or have a lot of weeding so in doing this I’ve had to get creative with what I’m using. I picked mostly shrubs and bushes based on the size they will get, the color they display in all 4 seasons, and if they produce berries or flowers.
I do know I will have to give the shrubs a once a year trimming but that’s nothing compared to the upkeep of perennials. I love the look of a cottage garden filled with blooms, they actually always catch my eye but at my home it just looks like a cluttered mess. Apparently I don’t have the knack for creating a fantastic cottage style garden plan. Lord knows I’ve tried it more than once and always end up gutting it and starting over. I’m extremely happy with what we have now and it’s been the simplest so far.
I have 3 whiskey barrels scattered throughout the landscape design and they all have several types of lavender planted in them with just a sprinkle of annuals for a little color. Here is why I plant more than one variety of Lavender.
- Lavender loves to be neglected I seldom have to water it and it produces year after year.
- With planting several different varieties one of them is always blooming.
- I like to have the different colors Lavender comes in, yes they are all purple but they do look and smell a little different.
- Lavender does well in full sun and that’s mostly what I have.
- I’ve found Lavender does well in pots or containers.
- When Lavender is harvested it keeps its perfume for several months.
- By harvesting Lavender I can get 2-3 cuttings from each plant.
- Even when it’s not in bloom the silver gray color of the plant is a great accent around my annuals.
- Lavender attracts bees and butterflies that help pollinate our fruit trees.
- The best reason ever is the bang for the buck, Lavender will produce for years to come so all I have is the initial investment.
LAVENDER AND ANNUALS IN THIS BARELL
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I wanted you to see the tiny Wren that moved into the birdhouse I made. She sits up top and chatters all day long and I sure enjoy watching her guard the nest.
MORE WAYS I’VE PLANTED THE WHISKEY BARRELS
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LOVE when the wrens return after the winter, and I can sit and listen to their trill all day long!! Watch for sparrows near the wren house. They are notorious for taking over….. I never knew how mean and what bullies that sparrows are until I read up on it when I noticed them taking over the birdhouses our wrens had made nests in. Very sad.
I think your plan to implement as many Perennials as is possible into your landscape is a great idea. The initial cost seems to be high until you realize you really only purchase them once, unlike the annuals we pay for every Spring. And dead-heading gets old after about June 4th, doesn’t it?
It looks like our frost and freeze warnings are behind us now. This has been a crazy Spring here, for sure!
Happy planting!!
Chris, I’ve had bluebirds trying to take over the Wren house this year I think the hole is the same size and they can fit in. Something keeps stealing the eggs from the Robin’s nest, I think a crow but she’s back and has 4 more eggs in the nest that I’ve been guarding. Yes annuals can suck your wallet dry I only purchased on flat this year so I felt pretty good about that, everything else comes back so no replanting.
Your house looks so nice with all of the planters. And your bird house is adorable.
Theresa
Ohio
Thank you Theresa right now all the birdhouses are full and I enjoy watching them come and go.
How lovely to have three types of lavender. I think your plan is very smart. Cottage cutting gardens are beautiful, but they definitely take a lot of work. xo Laura
Laura Im just not up for all that work anymore as long as the place looks nice and groomed Im all for simple theses days.
I am going flower shopping today…..too much rain…so hopefully I can get some pots planted. It all looks good Dawn. You sure have been busy.
Debbie good luck with your shopping I hope you find what you’re looking for. I have to go in with a list or I’ll come out with something I have to place for, and then I just keep telling myself NO when I stop and ponder over something I don’t need.
Good for you, knowing what you want to spend time on and scaling back to that.
True cottage gardens are always a mess because they were the gardens of the working class who did not have time to weed etc. The info that says you have controlled chaos is erroneous. It is just chaos. 🙂
I was just watching a documentary on “real” cottage gardens out of the UK and it is enlightening. They do actually look quite weedy and not as groomed as you seen in current garden magazines and online gardening sites.
Me, I don’t mind the weedy look and am embracing the true “cottage” garden just because I love it and it is what I have time for. If I want neat and tidy, I go to a friends house whose garden is a beautiful manicured to a fault place.
I love all the different Lavenders, I just have a few and right now I am trying to turn cuttings into topiaries. Slow but fun.
Pam I never knew that about cottage gardens. Yep they look a mess to me when planted at my place and I just can’t stand it but I love it in everyone else’s garden. I love lavender topiaries but I think it would take forever to get them into that shape, I’m not patient enough for that I want instant gratification, lol.
I’m getting rid of high maintenance plants too, just dug a few more to give away. I’m all for simplicity now, for me it could be an age thing. No annuals for me at all this year except for the tipsy pots and buckets. I’m thinking of all the money I’ll be saving 🙂
Linda I agree annuals cost a fortune. I’ve found I can easily spend $100 on two window boxes, but not anymore. I’m over all the work so simple is best for me and also not draining my wallet.
I tried to grow Lavender , but end up with Rosemary, easier here. I like how you decided to simplify your landscape, looks very nice. Cute, cute wren:)
Kathleen in Az
Kathleen I grow both and find the more I neglect them the better they do. That little wren sure is a chatterbox, she yaps all day!
Dawn, your landscaping looks fabulous! I love those big stones you have and I would love to have some of those to encircle our fire pit area but we would have to pay a lot of money to have those hauled in. Your barrel looks the best that I’ve ever seen! I tried to grow lavender once but it didn’t do well here. Could have something to do with our extreme heat and humidity that we have in the summer here in SC. And don’t you just love angelonia? I have the white but I saw some today in that deep rose shade that you have.
Jane I noticed you used Angelonia this year in your water feature galvanized tub too. I couldn’t find it in white around here only purple and pink. I would gladly bring you as many rocks as you wanted if you lived closer.
I just bought two containers of lavender…wish me luck!!
Shirley you will do great with them. Don’t overwater they like to be dry!
I have several types of lavender planted, but only one has thrived and that one is HUGE!
Carol around here you can just neglect them and they take off, that’s my kind of plant!
I too love the beautiful gardens seen in magazines and on pinterest but I seem to be lacking a green thumb. I did plant some lavender this year but after reading this, I’m going to plant more. Maybe I’ll end up with a pretty landscape by accident!
Nancy lavender is easy and loves to be neglected so if you’re not a gardener lavender is the perfect fit. Mine is looking full and lovely right now. I need to harvest it. Good luck on that beautiful accidental landscape plan.