Lavender plants are often associated with serene summer days, offering a sense of tranquillity with their fragrant aroma – and there’s a way to make them even healthier
Lavender plants, those emblems of serene afternoons with their hues of medium purple or light pinkish-purple, are not just a treat for the eyes but also a balm for the soul with their calming scent. They’re hardy little heroes as well, capable of weathering it through even in soils that aren’t particularly rich.
However, give them a spot of fertiliser, and you might just be rewarded with an impressive show of growth. That being said, gardening fans should note – lavenders and overzealous feeding don’t mix.
Piling on too much could lead to luscious leaves but at the expense of those delightful blooms you were pining for – or, worse yet, it could spell the end for your beloved plant.
It’s about striking that delicate balance. Seasoned gardeners pin the best time to feed these plants in spring, kicking off lavender’s growing cycle, reports the Express.
Pondering the puzzle of what to feed your lavender?
Stephanie, the gardener behind the Celebrated Herb blog, swears by certain items from your everyday kitchen waste stash.
She said: “Lavender plants do not require a lot of nutrients, but you can still use some kitchen scraps to provide them with additional nourishment.”
1. Coffee grounds
First and foremost on her list is coffee grounds which Stephanie heralds as an “excellent” nitrogen source—a key player in plant growth.
Not only do used coffee grounds give lavenders a leg up, Stephanie points out, but they are also champions for sprucing up hydrangeas and coaxing out fuller, more vivid roses.
A little sprinkle of coffee grounds around the base of your lavender plants, worked gently into the soil, can make a world of difference.
2. Banana peels
Banana peels are not just for slapstick comedy anymore; they’re rich in potassium and can encourage your plants to “flower more” and strengthen their roots.
To give your lavender that extra boost, simply chop up the peels and bury them in the soil around the plants.
And it’s not just lavender that will thank you – these peels are also beneficial for encouraging your orchids to flower and your roses to bloom.
3. Vegetable scraps
Don’t toss those vegetable scraps just yet! Carrot tops and lettuce leaves can be turned into a “homemade compost that can provide your lavender plants with additional nutrients”.
Create your own eco-friendly compost by layering these scraps with dry leaves and grass clippings in a compost bin and wait for the magic to happen as they decompose into nutrient-rich compost.
But a word of caution from gardening expert Stephanie – kitchen scraps “should not be the sole source of nutrients” for your lavender plants.
Use them sparingly to avoid over-fertilising and keep your garden blooming beautifully.