Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: rich24uk on June 10, 2008, 10:58
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I recently plated some lavender and (youch wood) it has taken to the soil very well. I have noticed recently that the surface soil has turned a slight tinge of green in parts which I think may be moss???
Is this harmful to the lavender? When I checked the soil PH it was neutral. :?:
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Unless you see a short grassy type growth sticking up, its not moss. Mostly likely you've got a fungus, slime type growth from soil that's either too damp, gets too little light or simply isn't cultivated often. Poor soils also tend to get this greenish crust, so carefully hoe/cultivate the area, add a bit of compost and it should sort itself out (provided water doesn't regularly pool here after rain). Lavenders do prefer dry soil, but they prefer stoney dry soils which eliminates this crusting which could eventually affect them. If water regularly pools here, try raising the soil level a bit in this area for water runoff.
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Yes, its not grassy, just seems to be sitting on the soil. The area is quite shady and I am wondering if it may be because I added a large amount of compost to the area. It used to be an old pond which I have since filled in.
I'll try digging it over again and not watering the area.
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It used to be an old pond which I have since filled in.
Ah, that's the reason. The rain must still collect in the depression.
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As Trillium said lavender do best and produce more lavender oil (the stuff that makes them smell) in dry conditions. I think they originated me the mediterranean area.