I want to plant Lavender.......... help gardening experts!!!

[sweetheart]

We have just landscaped our garden and I want to plant a row of lavender bushes.

Can anyone tell me when is the best time to do it or can I just do it now.

I have heard of Lavender that attracts butterfyls and would really like to plant this as the kids would love it and it's in memory of a baby boy I lost earlier this year.

Could someone also tell me if it will look horrible in the winter and when it flowers and smells nice?

I'm a total garden virgin

Or if anyone can think of anything else nice.......

We were going to do roses but decided they are too hard to keep alive! I have very UNgreen fingers!

I think lavender is a wonderful idea and it always smells so nice. There are loads of different varieties and colours too, so you could have a really pretty border. However, I'm also lacking in the green fingers department and I suspect there are loads of websites that will be able to give you advice of when to plant and the types to have. If I can find any specific sites - I'll let you know.

Do enjoy them Sweetheart and it's a lovely memorial for your little boy.

Hello Sweetheart, hope things are going well for you.
I'm not much of a gardener but I think Lavender is pretty hardy and you could plant it either in autumn or spring. We've got loads of it in our garden. It doesn't look horrible in winter at all - just a kind of silver colour without it's flowers. Flowers and lots of bees can be expected around July/August. It smells gorgeous.
I was given a rose bush in memory of my mum and it needs very little care - a bit of pruning which isn't hard at all and maybe a bit of rose fertiliser round the base when you remember (once every 3 years in my case ) It's a reminder every summer of her favourite colour....
All the best x

Autumn is a good time to plant. You will need to add some compost to the border and chop back any dead flowers from the bushes you buy. They are easy to look after and will flower from May - September depending on variety. Bees and butterflies love them.
I think a row of lavender looks lovely.

You might find this site interesting sweetheart. lavender and butterflies

I would make sure you cut them back though to make sure they stay neat. The only rule is not to cut back into dead wood. I like it because it is evergreeen and has the flowers/smell all summer.

thanks everyone.

Welshy - lovely to hear from you. I'm great thanks, due to have a baby in December so looking forward to that very much. How is your little one getting on. must be 3 months old by now. Hope your all doing well

agree about roses they are a nightmare with green fly, white fly and any other colour that fancies it!!
Lavender is lovely, I like Hidcote lavender which is a deep purple flower with silvery leaves. French lavender always looks nice ( it has flowers with rabbits ears on the top).
My dds pick the lavender flowers for indoors in the summer.

Sweetheart ds is 4 months old now and just the most delicious baby ever - I'm totally besotted. Hope the last few months go well for you.
If you choose lavender it will grow like mad - you need to leave spaces between the plants. DD helped me pick the flowers this year as I'm hoping to make lavender bags with her for little christmas presents. Take care xxx

I bought a load of lavander plants from my local garden centre last week - ncie biggies all reduced from 7 quid to 2 quid because they look a bit shite at this time of year - the pot-grown ones need a good chopping back and they don't want them on their shelves over the winter. You might find a bargain or two!

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Hi Sweetheart: where do you live in Uk? Do you know what sort of soil you have? What I mean is, if you live near sandy or chalky sites lavender will love it - I live in Kent, and garden on solid clay, so lavender only lasts about 5 years before you have to replant. Lavender loves poor soil (so no manure or compost needed) and must have full sun: after that a trim every autumn is all you need. Measure your space, and plant every 8-10" for best effect. By all means plant now, and if you do lose one it will be easy to replace it in early Spring.

If you do get some bargain plants but they're all the same you could always order some from Crocus or another online store to add some variety of colour and shape.

we put a row in the front of our house and I have to admit it is a bit uninteresting (but not horrible) when not in flower - but when it is it's stunning. smells gorgeous - the girls love it and it looks fantastic