Lavender and rosemary will flourish if 1 common item is sprinkled around the plants now
Lavender and rosemary are two of the most popular herbs to grow in the UK, but many gardeners make the mistake of feeding them the same fertiliser as leafy herbs like basil or parsley.
Herbs are often touted as the simplest of plants to cultivate, flourishing even on a humble kitchen windowsill. However, a frequent error is treating them all with the same fertiliser. Most plants require fertilisation in summer to bolster their growth, and leafy herbs such as basil, mint, or parsley will produce more flavourful leaves if nourished at this time.
Yet, woody herbs like lavender or rosemary, which originate from arid regions, actually fare better in nutrient-poor soil. Fertilising these Mediterranean herbs in late July or early August can lead to flower or leaf loss and promote fragile, leggy stems that slugs find irresistible. The shock of fertiliser can also overwhelm woody herbs, diminishing their chances of enduring the autumn as their tender new stems suffer in the cold.
Read more: Monty Don shares 5-minute lavender task for bushy plants every year
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Instead, Amanda MacArthur from the Food Gardening Network has shared a straightforward method to aid the growth of lavender and rosemary by incorporating gravel into their soil during the summer months, reports the Express.
Amanda explained: "This may not be the first thing you think of as mulch, but herbs like rosemary that come from Mediterranean climates love the drainage and the heat that gravel offers.
"And since gravel isn't going to decompose, it's a good choice if your herb garden is also part of your landscape design."
Mulching is an effortless gardening practice where material is laid around a plant for protection. In the summertime, plants are commonly mulched with substances like bark to retain moisture in the soil.
However, both lavender and rosemary are not fans of damp soil, as it increases their susceptibility to root rot and other fungal diseases brought on by excess water.
Incorporating gravel aids in swift water drainage and reflects sunlight, warming the soil and mimicking the arid, stony conditions these herbs naturally favour.
This fosters a healthier, more robust environment that promotes stronger roots, hardier leaves, and superior flower yield.
It also enhances essential oil levels, rendering lavender flowers more aromatic and rosemary leaves richer, with a more potent flavour.
Whether you cultivate woody herbs in pots or the garden, adding a bit of gravel can significantly improve the summer thriving conditions for lavender and rosemary.
