A classic garden plant and no garden is complete without a lavender plant. There are many benefits from growing lavender and companion planting lavender will improve your garden. Not only in appearance but also fragrance and by the wealth of beneficial insects it attracts.
Companion Planting Lavender To Repel Pests
Grow lavender to repel many pests including fleas, moths, and white flies. Sprigs of lavender placed under the carpet will stop fleas from entering your home. Lavender attracts many beneficial insects as well and these will improve pollination and cut down on pests.
Bees and hoverflies are attracted to lavender so growing lavender around fruit trees and bushes will improve crop size. The frog hopper bug is also attracted to lavender, you’ll notice the “cuckoo spit” that they create. This foam is to protect their off spring which are sap suckers and you should remove them.
To remove the “cuckoo spit” use a powerful water jet/spray and blast all traces away. Apart from this lavender is usually problem free and thrives in the UK climate. Hoverflies also keep aphids at bay and lavender can be grown near aphid prone plants.
Companion Planting Lavender
Many plants will benefit from companion planting with lavender including:-
Apple Trees and Lavender
The grub of the codling moth will eat its way into apples and make them inedible. Plant lavender under apple trees to deter codling moths. For more on companion planting apple trees click here.
Pear Trees and Lavender
Like apples, pears are susceptible to codling moth grubs as well and like apples lavender acts as a deterrent. For more information on companion planting pear trees click here.
Tomatoes and Lavender
These two don’t really have the same watering needs and should not be planted together. However growing lavender in pots around your tomato plants will keep white fly away and attract beneficial pollinators. For more on companion planting tomatoes click here.
Brassicas and Lavender
Again because of different watering requirements grow lavender in pots to repel white flies and cabbage whites.
Rosemary and Lavender
Both of these plants originate in the mediterranean and thrive in similar conditions. Growing them together makes a good display and eases watering. To find out more about companion planting rosemary click here.
Sage and Lavender
Another herb from the same geographical origins, sage does well with lavender. For more information on companion planting sage click here.
Thyme and Lavender
Low growing thyme makes a pretty ground cover growing under lavender and it’s another herb from the mediterranean. So watering requirements are similar. For more on herbs as companion plants click here.
Roses and Lavender
Growing lavender close to roses will attract hoverflies that will keep aphids away or at least cut their numbers down.
What Not To Grow With Lavender
Basically any plant that requires a lot of water should not be grown with lavender unless it is pot grown.
How To Increase Your Lavender Plants For Free
Lavender is one of the easiest plants to grow from cuttings as long as you follow these basic tips. Take soft wood cuttings from non flowering stems in Spring and place in compost. Take hardwood cuttings in Autumn and place in compost in a unheated greenhouse, plant out the following spring.
I have had great success using the Autumn cuttings which makes sense because that’s when I prune my lavender. I always set more than I need as they don’t all take and if they do I give them to friends.
