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Growing Lavender: Soil ..HELP
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Posted by laccanvas (My Page) on Thu, Feb 4, 10 at 14:05
What kind of soil do I use for lavenders in containers and clay soil? I am wanting to plant my lavender in the ground but my soil is clay and wet..so I'm wanting to dig alot of my bed/soil out and mix it with sand and organics..but I don't know where to begin. Help.
I have been reading alot about lavenders needing alkaline well drained soil... How do I make my semi-clay and semi-humus soil fit for lavender in ground planting?
What is the best soil composition I should use?? Any suggestions...brands and organic matter etc??
Thanks,
Knoxville, Tennessee
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Growing Lavender: Soil ..HELP
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| Don't know if this will help you, but, I did grow lavender last year - near Nashville. My flower bed had about 10 inches of compost and manure mix. Underneath, of course, is our wonderful tennessee clay which i mixed with the compost and manure as much as i could. The lavender did great and was very healthy, even with all the rain. I expect it to come back on its own this year. Can't wait!!! LOVE the smell of lavender. |
RE: Growing Lavender: Soil ..HELP
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| Good drainage is a must - a raised bed is a good way to go if you aren't on a slope. The other important thing (besides sunshine) is alkaline soil. We have that in many places in Nasvhille, but it's not likely that's what you have in Knoxville. I would recommend getting a soil test - if your PH is anything lower than 6.5 or 7.0, you are going to have difficulty growing lavender. It's not impossible - but you would have to replace a great deal of soil and treat it regularly to keep the PH high. |
RE: Growing Lavender: Soil ..HELP
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| A friend in west Knoxville has kept Lavender and Rosemary alive for many years. Each year she replants them in fresh grit with a very small amount of soil added. Lavender goes in chicken grit that is crushed up shells; rosemary goes in granite chichken grit. I think she gets them at an ag supply place over near Oak Ridge. |
RE: Growing Lavender: Soil ..HELP
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| I love lavender! Unfortunately in my experience they look great for about three seasons then they buckle from the humidity. Is it worth it? Heck yes! I will dig a twenty dollar hole for a two dollar plant that is short lived because they are so intoxicating. My method is a third part sand, a third part compost, a third part native soil. Mulch with sand and you will increase the oil content therefore increasing the lovely aroma! |
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