Wholesale lavender seller for hedging....cypresses...Roman pines...

07/20/2012 - 14:42

I have set my heart on a really long lavender hedge going along the strada bianca up to our casaletto but can't afford to just buy plants straight from a standard nursery. It's a long road and my guess is that we'll need 100's of lavenders (would like to throw in some rosemary and oleanders too and to plant up a few more olives to edge the road too and make for a really lovely approach to our cottage. Does anyone know of a wholesale plant seller who would sell young plants by the 100's? Also what are the best type of lavenders for central Italy for edging - i think we should go for a reasonably high sort as it's a long drive and short ones would get lost! I'd also like to 'live the dream' and plant up some cypresses and even Roman pines too in different places so it would be good to have any advice on buying and planting these too. Are Roman pines the ones which have pinoli nuts for eating? We are near Rieti/Rome in Lazio. Many thanks!

Topic

Gardening

Comment

Why not just buy a couple of plants and take cuttings? Save a fortune.

Try seeds - I was surprised.. I threw some rosemary seeds in the ground before leaving for the UK at Xmas and you should have seen them by Easter.... I've started some lavender seeds (from B&Q) at home and will take them down next time. Seeds seem slow, but the do the work (cheaply) while you're looking. I planted laurels at Easter and will see how they have come on in a couple of weeks when I'm down next. (Chose them for the perma-colour because our builder put in connifers whcih soon died off in patches - and when they're back to the wood, they never recover)

Lavender, rosemary, sage are not expensive....2 euros at the market in a 1 / 1 and a half ltr pot for 10 plus here in Marche. Time to order and plant is the Spring as availability limited autumn and needs to get established first yr of planting. Wholesale nurseries do exist here but not set up to sell to the general public. Maybe better for you to buy in uk, Morrisons / Lidl's (liners) and transport here, suitcase / car will smell better than an air-freshener !

choose or find a reputable nursery,go early in the year even february or early march and explain that you require several hundred lavender plants what would they charge, if you get the right price order them in order that they can organize it for you.If you're not convinced on the price ask for another quote at another nursery.IF you're good at negotiating get them to bring them round to you included in the price saves a lot of trips back and forth.we did this, got good plants ,not even tiny,delivered in pots for a few cents each.Otherwise you can try as others suggest seeds/cuttings etc.Personally i'd go for one supplier for all the plants on the basis that the quantities will seriously bring the prices down and you'll get more homogenous plants together improving the hedging aspect and make sure you insist on delivery FREE included as it'll take a lorry load