Is anybody here good with lavender?

[badgerpup]

I like lavender, and am trying to grow a lavender 'hedge'. Planted it last year...dug out a trench, filled it with good topsoil and planted 12 lavender plants in it; six "Munstead" (English lavender) and six "Lavendin intermedia grosso" (French- what most of the oil and fragrances is made from).

All of the Munstead came out of dormancy, but the Lavendin just sat there, all dry...called the company where I'd bought it, and after some back and forthing (about three weeks, during which 2 of the plants showed some life...finally) they replaced the four which died.
So I go out to plant...and one MORE lavendin has decided to join the living.
Meanwhile all the Munsteads are going nuts...:bounce:

Is there anything special I should be doing for the French lavender?
Does this stuff just come out of dormancy late and slowly?
The letters below show how they're planted, so they're all getting the same amount of sun, water, and nutrients...
______________
*M**L**M**L**M**L
M**L**M**L**M**L
____________

* used to indicate spacing cos HTML won't listen to me...:dunce:

Roots and Rhizomes http://www.rootsrhizomes.com
They're a decent company; good products and customer service.

[crispini]

1. Lavender likes hot and dry.

That's mostly what I know. :)

Good article here:
http://gardening.about.com/od/perennials/a/Lavender.htm

[uppityperson]

2. I have grown a bunch of different types, find the ones with fat ends need more water, die easier.

My munsteads and grossos grow great with little water, but the (spanish?) ones with larger heads die more easily. Plant them in sandy soil, make sure it's not too wet. I had a couple die off because they didn't drain fast enough.

Sounds like a good company.

[japple]

3. My plants are 3 to 5 years old, and I've only lost a couple over

the winter. The English lavendar and Munsteads are doing best. I think it was Spanish or French varieties that didn't make it. They do best in Mediterranean climates, which is similar to what we have here in Georgia (though it's much more humid here). Last year, during the drought, I put a soaker hose in my flower bed and they were okay, but didn't grow much. This year, though, with a normal amount of rain, they've gone into overdrive and are mounding up beautifully. I will probably have to prune them back this fall. Once established, they are mostly low maintenance and give a lot of rewards for little effort. The fragrance is like no other, and the bees, hummingbirds love the flowers.

Good luck, and don't fuss over them too much.

[Blue Gardener]

4. In my experience

Lavender is very particular. Munstead is the only one that I've been able to grow in my garden.

[bluethruandthru]

5. I think Montana is a little too cold for French lavender.

English lavender will withstand the cold more than french. I would check the hardiness zone for the plants you have.

[badgerpup]

6. Both the Munstead and the Lavendin say Zone 5...

We're in zone 4, but the area they're in is pretty sheltered, and I do mulch over the winter.

I've noticed that the Munstead is a LOT more forgiving about being in a cooler zone as well.