Lavender woes

[cowgirl chef]

I planted a row of six lavender plants just in front of my potting shed, and they had been growing fairly well all summer--about two feet high with great flowers. When I returned from vacation, however, the whole base of the plants (extending up from the roots) a had blackened and withered. I'm not sure if this is a case of bugs, or it somehow got overwatered (which I sort of doubt, here in south central Texas--but our cleaning lady could have ran amock). Can these plants be saved?

I planted hummingbird sage a foot or so in front of it, and it has now surpassed the lavendar in height--is that, perhaps, stealing it's light at the roots?

Any info on if and how I can salvage the plants would be greatly appreciated.

[pridgeon]

I don't know if you can save the lavender plants you have but you could propagate them. Last fall I pruned my lavendar bush and just for grins I stuck some of the pruned off ends in the dirt, then promptly forgot I had done it. Much to my surprise they rooted!

[Marlyn]

Sounds to me like cotton root rot. Lavender is notorious for having difficulty when the drainage is not excellent. I've had some beautiful lavenders that did well for an entire season and part of the next before withering much like you describe. On one plant, just part of the plant would wither while the rest would appear to do well - for a while that is.

My guess is that once they get like this, you will never get them to be strong and healthy again.

Marlyn