Lavender and Companion Planting

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Lavender makes an excellent companion plant for other Mediterranean herbs with similar cultural needs, such as rosemary, sage and thyme. And of course lavender makes an excellent companion for perennial flowering plants that provide complimentary or contrasting foliage shape or color, flower shape and color, or other aesthetic effect. Roses and bearded iris make an excellent combination. But the classic companion is rose, particularly shrub roses or floribunda roses. Indeed, the rose and lavender pairing is undoubtedly one of the most timeless and effective plant pairing in horticulture.

Lavender generally should not be interplanted in close proximity to vegetables, as the soil moisture conditions required for healthy vegetables may be fatal to lavender.

In addition to its value as an attractive landscape plant and as a herb, lavender performs a vital role in a sustainable garden. Lavender is a famous attractor of honey bees, bumblebees, and some species of solitary bees, as well as other pollinators and beneficial insects, and may be planted in dry borders or in well-drained pots near vegetable gardens or fruit trees to encourage pollination of other plants.

Regardless of what plant is near lavender, GardenZeus recommends bare soil with no mulch in a radius of a few to several inches from lavender main stems and root crowns, and minimal organic mulch at the surface above the remaining area of lavender root zones, from just inside the dripline outward for larger plants. Organic mulch is recommended only if kept away from the stem and root crowns can be kept dry. Even inorganic mulches, such as gravel or stones, may contribute to fungal disease in lavenders if applied near root crowns or main stems.

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Felco pruners are an essential garden tool. They can be used for removing dead branches and spent blossoms on your lavender plants and for general garden pruning and maintenance.