Lavender plant that acts as a mosquito repellent. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
Some shrubs, like lavender, are evergreen flowering perennially into small purplish blossoms and adding to the beauty of your home.
When you think of shrubs, especially in the hot weather you picture woody plants whose leaves have either fallen off or dried out living your garden looking untidy and unattended to.
Shrubs when compared to flowers are low maintenance and when well pruned can be used as borders within your garden.
Some shrubs, like lavender, are evergreen flowering perennially into small purplish blossoms and adding to the beauty of your home.
In addition, both the leaves and flowers are sweet scented providing a natural air freshener whether they are grown indoors or out in the garden.
Terry Kimani, a florist on Nairobi’s Limuru Road says that lavender is one the easiest plants to grow even for those without a green thumb and is able to thrive and spread into a bush within a short time.
Lavender whose genus name ‘lavandula is believed to be derived from the Latin word ‘lavare’, which means ‘to wash’.
There are 39 different species of the herb that belongs to the mint family each with a distinct scent. Cuttings are easily available among plant sellers as well as specialised centers like Plants Galore for between Sh100 and Sh150 each.
So popular is the shrub that Ms Kimani sells 300 cuttings on a good month and about 200 when the demand is low. Some florists sell fresh lavender cuttings while others sell those that have becoming seedlings and already grown for a month or so.
There are two types of lavender seedlings available in the market today, those with green leaves and those with grey like leaves.
“There is no difference between the two types in terms of growing and maintaining them but people prefer the grey variety because it has a stronger scent,” she says.
Soil quality
Unlike popular belief, lavender can grow and thrive in cold regions provided they are planted in right soil and get adequate sunlight.
If your lavender seems to be drying out, the soil you planted it in is not appropriate. You see the herb prefers soils that are not acidic, thriving in soils with a PH of between 6 and 8.
You also need to ensure that the soil drains well as clogging may lead to the plant rotting. If you are planting it in the garden consider a raised bed that will ensure proper drainage.
Young cuttings of lavender might require constant watering, once a day, when they get transplanted but once they are firmed up in the soil and begin to grow watering can be done once every other day.
“Red soil is the best for growing, you just transplant the seedlings and apply rooting powder which helps them to grow faster.
The herb itself does not require a lot of water and as it grows you can limit it to when the soil is very dry,” she says.
Mulching can be done when it is too hot but the spread needs to be light enough to ensure that there is no water retention as this might make the shrubs susceptible to mildew and rotting.
Lavender can grow to a moderate height of between two or three meters and this is mostly depending on what one prefers.
Pruning it, two months after transplanting helps to shape it in a particular design and also limit how high it grows.
Growing it in your vegetable garden is also considered a plus as the fragrance keeps away pests from other crops like carrots.
“Lavender as it begins to flower can also be a good addition to the live flower bouquets in your home, some people say it has very many medicinal benefits,” the florist says.
Therapeutic
Inhaling certain fragrances like the scent of mango, lemon and lavender can help reduce stress, fight inflammation and depression, and induce sleep, studies have shown.
The sweet scent is a preferred addition to perfumes, lotions and soaps that are sold commercially.
Homemade soap enthusiasts can actually extract the oil from the leaves and flowers to incorporate it.
