On the Coast – Over 55 Issue 32 I November/December 2019(clone)

PLANT PROFILE Lavender are one of our favourite flowering plants. They’ve always been hardy and colourful but with improved breeding, they are even better! lavender Lavender is a perennial herb, used for its great ornamental colour and their essential oils. They all flower but they aren’t all purple – add pink, white, blue, mauve and every shade in between to the colour palette. There are so many types of lavender and many are very fragrant especially the traditional English and French lavenders and Aromatica. The latest thing is double flowers and variegated foliage to give colour year round. As well as looking pretty, they’re useful and bring in bees and other pollinators into your garden, so if you’ve got fruit trees or vegies you want pollinated, plant some lavender! BEST POSITION Full sun to part shade. The more direct sun – the more flowers you’ll have. CARE Fertilise with a good general purpose fertiliser, and use a good Rose or flower feed throughout spring and summer to get the most flowers. Prune well after flowering and don’t be afraid to cut them back by about a third. A well pruned Lavender will be thick and bushy, long lived and wont go woody. DOES IT GROW IN POTS? Of course! Lavender makes a stunning potted plant. They have non-invasive roots and grow well in medium–large pots. PESTS & DISEASE What pests and disease! Lavender are very tolerant, just be careful not to get them too wet in winter. Vickey Taylor is the owner of Burbank House & Garden, Kincumber. Phone 4368 2220 Burbank Café the perfect spot for a coffee! Located inside Burbank Burbank House House and and Garden Garden Nursery Nursery at at Kincumber, Kincumber, Located inside our cafe cafe is is open open 7 7 days. days. See over for our weekly specials. 30 Empire Bay Dr, Kincumber Ph: 4368 2220 Burbank house & garden NOVEMBER/DECEMBER – ISSUE 32 25

On the Coast – Over 55 Issue 32 I November/December 2019(clone) | Page 25