Lavender is a staple in British gardens – the hardy perennial herb is loved for its delicate purple blooms and its ability to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies
Lavender remains a firm favourite among gardeners, not only for its stunning appearance and delightful scent but also for its simplicity of cultivation, provided it receives proper nourishment.
The ideal time to plant lavender is April or May, when frost poses minimal threat to the roots, allowing the plant sufficient opportunity to establish itself before the summer arrives. Stephanie LeBlanc, a gardening specialist and founder of Celebrated Herb, revealed that while growing lavender is simple, the secret to maintaining them “healthy, blooming and looking amazing all year round” depends on the “right fertiliser”.
The expert shared the best type of fertiliser to use, and it’s an easy-to-make homemade mix. It comes after Brits are told to never put one banned item in their garden bins, as you could face punishment.
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Stephanie explained the benefits of a homemade fertiliser: “Organic fertilisers, such as composted manure, worm castings, and bone meal, are excellent choices because they provide a balanced mix of essential nutrients and improve soil structure.
“These organic materials can be added to the soil or used as a top dressing to provide a slow release of nutrients to the plant’s root zone.”, reports the Express.
Nevertheless, you don’t need to splash out on fertiliser for your lavender plants. This herb can flourish using kitchen waste, offering an economical feeding alternative.
Stephanie recommended: “Lavender plants do not require a lot of nutrients, you can still use some kitchen scraps to provide them with additional nourishment.”
Should you wish to give your lavender an extra lift, use preserved vegetable waste such as carrot tops or lettuce leaves to create your own homemade compost. The expert observed that gardeners can “simply layer the scraps with dry leaves and grass clippings in a compost bin and wait for it to decompose into rich compost.”
Furthermore, banana peels are frequently a garden’s hidden treasure, particularly beneficial for lavender and countless other plants owing to their elevated potassium levels, a vital nutrient for flowering specimens. All you need to do is chop up the banana skins and nestle them around the base of your lavender plants; it’s a clever method to guarantee they thrive with energy.
Searching for the ideal DIY fertiliser to boost your lavender? Well, Stephanie has devised a “simple recipe” for a homemade mixture that pledges, not only to stimulate flower production, but also to improve soil health, addressing the frequently overlooked problem of inadequate soil quality and drainage that hinders lavender development.
The gardening expert Stephaine commented: “This fertiliser provides magnesium and sulphur from the Epsom salt, alkalises the soil with baking soda, and supplies additional nutrients with the fish emulsion.”
Here’s everything you need:
- One gallon of water
- One tablespoon of Epsom salt
- One tablespoon of baking soda
- One tablespoon of fish emulsion
Method:
- Simply mix together the ingredients in a bucket or watering can, ensuring they blend into a consistent solution
- Apply it to the base of the lavender, avoiding the plant’s foliage, followed by normal watering. Gardeners are advised not to overfeed lavender, but a single nourishment at the start of its growth can spark blossoms.
Stephanie added: “It’s important to note that lavender plants do not require heavy fertilisation, so use this homemade fertiliser sparingly, once every few months. Over-fertilising can actually harm plants.”
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