Louisa Pini from Just Be Natural has written a blog this month all about lavender care and how to use it. She also makes beneficial lavender products from local lavender.
July is a wonderful month for lavender. Depending upon the species of lavender it may already be in full bloom or it’s just getting ready to flower. With this in mind I thought it is an ideal time to share with you how to care for lavender as well as some of the health benefits of this wonderful plant.
Lavender Care
Lavender is a Mediterranean plant which means it thrives on poor, stony soil in full sun. It loves well drained soil and does not need a lot of water.
Some parts of the Surrey have chalky soil which is ideal and other parts contain more clay which can be too heavy for lavender, keeping the roots too moist. If you find your soil has more clay, mix in some grit or sharp sand to aid drainage. Alternatively you may wish to grow it in a pot with a compost and sharp sand mix.
Full sun is ideal but it will do well in partial shade and is overall quite a hardy perennial. After flowering prune back the lavender well but not to the dead wood, leave it so green shoots are still visible.
Drying Lavender Flowers
Dried lavender flowers are the perfect way to hold onto the beautiful fragrance of this plant all year round. Cut lavender stems in full flower and hang them upside down in bunches in a cool, dark, airy place. A paper bag is ideal for this. Avoid using a plastic bag as this can encourage damp and mould.
After a couple of weeks the flowers should be fully dried. Shake the flower heads off the stem into a paper bag or pillow case. Store the flower heads in a cool dark place until you are ready to use them in potpourri or lavender bags.
Local Lavender Heritage
Learn more about growing lavender at Carshalton Lavender, a local community project run 100% by volunteers. They are tucked away within Stanley Road allotments , SM5 4NQ. It’s a lovely time to join them on the field. You can find out more details about their project and the history of lavender in the area here.
Lavender Health Benefits
Another beautiful gift that this plant offers us is its pure essential oil. A process of steam distillation is used to obtain the pure essential oil from the flowers. Lavender essential oil is an excellent oil to have in your first aid cabinet and can prove invaluable for a number of minor ailments.
It is one of the few essential oils that you can apply neatly to your skin. However, if you suffer with particularly sensitive skin it may be good to apply it diluted in a carrier oil – 2 drops of essential oil: 1 tsp carrier oil like Jojoba. It’s good to clean cuts, grazes or to minor burns. Its natural antiseptic properties inhibit bacteria growth and help to prevent infection. Apply it to insect bites to alleviate the redness and itching.
Lavender essential oil is also well known for its sedative properties making it an excellent choice oil to help you get a good night’s sleep. It can be inhaled or diffused to create a calm atmosphere.
After a busy day you may wish to add a few drops of lavender oil to your bath and have a soak allowing it to soothe and relax tired muscles.
As a Clinical Aromatherapist I’m excited to live close to Carshalton Lavender Allotments and could not resist making a whole range of skincare using this beautiful oil. The Carshalton Lavender collection includes the pure essential oil, face & body oils, a luxurious hand cream, room & linen mists and pulse point roll ons. View the full range here.
I hope you have found this blog useful and that it may have inspired you to grow some lavender and use the essential oil, two wonderful gifts from nature.
Best wishes,
Louisa Alessandra Pini
Holistic & Clinical Aromatherapist
Creator of Just Be Natural Collection Aromatherapy & Skincare
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