Laurentia Blue Starts - how do I look after them?

[Wolfgirl]

Its winter, and all my potted Laurentia blue stars are withered and looking dead. Although if you look closely there is new life underneath.

I bought plug plants off QVC last year, and when they finaly bloomed they looked fab. Now I dont know what to do with them, I dont even know if they are annuals or perennials.

Do I cut the dead withered stems away or leave them?


help?

Oh and can anyone advise the same treatment/care that I should apply to lavender? I planted 5 bushes of lavendar last summer and again, the stems look withered/dead. Do I cut them back - if so, how far?

Many thanks
xx

[WigWamBam]

Laurentia are an annual, so won't come back again this year.

Newly planted lavender should be pruned hard, to encourage bushy growth - cut them right back. Once they are established they should be pruned every year to keep them tidy. Remove flower stalks and about 1" of the current year's growth, making sure that some green growth remains. For overgrown lavender you can prune harder, as long as some green growth remains. Usually pruning is done in late summer, after floweing, but you can prune in the spring as well - it's probably a bit early yet but once the danger of frost has passed you should be OK.

[Wolfgirl]

darn it, I was hoping the LBS were perenial, there seems to be new growth on some of them! Thanks for tips on lavender. will prune in warmer weather ; many thanks