Anyone growing Lavender?

I have quite a number of lavender bushes at the back of my house, in fact they are all I can see from the kitchen as they have grown so huge this year. The bees have been going crazy all summer - shortage of bees? What shortage! They are still buzzing around and making the most of what pollen
is left. I have cut some bushes back already as far as the old wood. After their first summer (2 years ago) they flowered until the end November so I didn't cut them back until the following spring; last year I did it in October and it looks as if it will be earlier this year. I too am a novice when it comes to matters horticultural!

You can cut off the spent flowerheads and trim the lavender to a neat shape as far back as the old wood.

Now is an ideal time to take cuttings and if you're not sure how to do it there are loads of helpful clips on YouTube.

Now is the time to cut flowers of most lavenders,always difficult when the bees are still visiting them.
I leave one of my bushes until it gets a little cooler and the bees have finished,it is so important to allow them to carry on nectar gathering as long as possible as it has been a difficult few years for them.
When cutting back don't prune to hard as often they will not shoot from old wood, cutting can be taken now until October.

I always grow lavender under my clothes line! I hang my nightdresses so that it brushes the plant. Smells lovely.

Yes, I spent this afternoon cutting the lavender in glorious sunshine. They have forecast rain tomorrow so it seemed a good day to do it. I have left a big clump for the bees as they are still busy. I hope they don't mind me having a bit! I will tidy the rest if it up when they have finished. They didn't sting me by the way, they seemed too happy for that.
A feeling a bit creaky now after all that bending and stretching- who needs the gym anyway?

I cut my biggest clump back last weekend as I could hardly get in the front door, but I left some plants that are in pots.
Lavender doesn't shoot from the old wood, so don't be too brutal.

here is something you can do with all those lavender flowers.
Yotam Ottolenghi's recipe for Walnut, Apricot and Lavender Cake.
(Scroll down past the cheesecake recipe!)

Oh no!!!

Do NOT eat lavender. That is NOT what it was made for.

Yeuck!

Herb farm near us spoils a really nice shortbread with it.

Sorry, Jo, but I like lavender scones. I have a large lavender plant outside my kitchen door, right next to the butterfly bush.
However, can anyone explain to me why I use lavender essential oil to get rid of headaches - and it works - but I do not have and have never had a sense of smell, as far as I can remember.

The smell of the damned stuff makes me sneeze.

you can make Lavender tea, infuse the heads for about 5mins , strain & drink .

Good for insomnia , so they say !

I have lavender in big pots on my patio, under the washing line. The flowers are finished now but the bees have loved them.

Nonu - Can you really do that? Must try it tonight.......

You can ! let me know how it works , maybe have to have it several nights running !

Gally If you google it, Twinings and others sell it.

That is good Lona , however , if you do it with fresh "pickings" it is better

I'm sure it is Nonu, I was thinking that if it worked well for Gally she might not always have fresh pickings, and may be glad to buy some.

Spot on Lona !

my tip of drying herbs is to put them in a pillow case in the airing cupboard.
When we had horrendous frosts I realised that Hidcote can survive a brutal cut back. If they are larger types with thick stems they need a more gentle prune I think. Cut back in the winter.

each time my daughter moves.I always buy her a new Lavender bush

I scatter dried lavender flowers on the carpet and tread on them before hoovering - leaves the lovely perfume in the room and in the vacuum cleaner

Better than the old Shake 'n' Vac !

Galen - read quickly and thought you posted 'I always grow lavender under my clothes!!!' Oops, had to re read, my mind was all over the place (grin)

- Galen