Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender )

I think the reason to plant them later is because they don't make new roots until/unless the soil is warm - so recover / grow away better.  If you need the ground where the plants currently are then "now" is the time, whatever the season!

I'm planning on redoing my Lavender hedge, and have embarked on a 2-year process for taking cuttings and growing on ... rare for me to be thinking ahead!  I bought cheap plug plants of Munstead initially, which got me going, but last year I bought 10 plants, of different varieties, to trial what I liked and (could have told you before I bought them!!) I think I'm settled on Hidcote as the replacement.


Original plug plants - tiny!! (I am guessing grown from seed)


Planted and matured a bit

That is just beautiful!!!!  I've purchased Hidcote seeds this year and hope to get a lavender hedge started bordering my veg garden.  Wondering if this is something that can be directly sown into the soil or must always be started indoors? 

The Hidcote hedge is beautiful.  You have got me thinking (and planning).............

The Hidcote hedge is beautiful.  You have got me thinking (and planning).............

Just to clarify: my photo is Lavender munstead, which I don't think is as nice as L. Hidcote, and I am in the process of propagating Hidocte as a replacement.  Lots of varieties of Lavender available if you are thinking of planting a hedge, so might be worth choosing a variety that you like.

Munstead is cheap though ... which is why I bought it in the first place.  Mini-plugs were less than 20p each, from memory (and from van Meuwen ...)

It has got woody, which is part of the reason for replacing it.  Been a bit slack over the years, and planning to be more aggressive in future, after replanting.  Need to cut back to a "mound" after flowering, and in good time before winter, whereas I have been leaving it until early September, so it doesn't look too bare during the Summer, and need to make sure it is fully cut back each year - otherwise, year on year it gets longer / more leggy/woody, and then cannot be cut back far enough to maintain it.  (Can't cut Lavender back into old wood ... although ... can cut back to the last viable leaf, and it may then sprout higher up, from old wood, and can then cut back to that point of "valid growth", but it takes several years to revive a Lavender hedge that way - can make a Spring cut, as well as Late Summer, as soon as it shoots in Spring, which helps keep the revival to as short a period as possible.

I need to rejuvenate my lavender bushes (english, no idea of the type) as they are pretty straggly. If I take cuttings this summer should I then keep them in the house over winter, potting on if necessary? I don't have a greenhouse (yet!) so the choice is outside or indoors at the moment. I can keep one of the bedrooms unheated - it's west facing and they could live on the window sill.

That's great advice Kristen, many thanks. I can see I'll have to plan this carefully. Have just bought a cheapy coldframe so that increases my options a bit.

Cheers!