How to Grow Lamb's Ear Herbs
Lamb’s ear is a heat resistant ornamental plant classified as an herb that is native to Turkey, Armenia and Iran, though it can be found commonly in most parts of the world. As the name would suggest, lamb's ear produces leaves with a shape similar to that of a real lamb's ears. They are primarily a creeping plant that does not grow more than one foot high, though they do produce light purple flowers on tall spikes that can be raised over two feet high. They grow very easily and were considered a weed in their native lands, though they make great additions to any rambling garden and can be used to form low ornamental hedges. They are grown primarily for the soft velvety texture and vibrant color of their foliage rather than their flowers and are often used in children’s gardens because of their soft feel. Here is a guide on how to grow lamb’s ear in your garden or lawn. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Hoe
- Lamb's ear seeds
- Wheelbarrow
- Peat moss
- Generic time release solid fertilizer
- Mulch
- Rake
- Water
- Sand
Instructions
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Begin in early spring by deciding where you want to place the plants, an edging along a walkway or a shaped patch in a garden would be ideal. Use a shovel to mark out the boundaries of this area in the soil or grass.
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2
Clear the area with a shovel and hoe, pulling up the grass and uprooting any weeds you may find.
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3
Use a shovel to dig up the first 4 or 5 inches of soil across the entire area and place it in a wheelbarrow. The soil must be prepared to meet the needs of the lamb’s ear to ensure you will get the best possible results. Mix the soil up with plenty of sand and peat moss. This will lighten the soil and allow it to drain more quickly. Throw in a generous portion of time released solid fertilizer to take care of the plants’ needs for the next few years.
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4
Lay half of the soil back down in an even layer. Distribute seeds across the soil, scattering them widely like you were placing grass seeds, though not in such high amounts. Throw the rest of the soil over the top of the seeds.
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5
Use a rake to spread an inch thick layer of mulch over the top of the soil to prevent weeds taking root while you wait for the lamb’s ear to grow. This layer will also protect fully grown lamb’s ear from mildew problems and possible slug damage later on.
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Water the mulch lightly and do so regularly every 3 or 4 days. Lamb’s ear is very drought resistant but also very prone to damage from being overwatered so make sure to water sparingly. You should have sprouts in six weeks and healthy juvenile plants by the end of the summer. The lamb’s ear will have fully matured by the middle of the next spring and will begin to propagate themselves to fill in any gaps where other plants did not sprout.
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Tips & Warnings
To encourage outward growth it is important to deadhead the flower spikes shortly after they begin to wilt. Also by trimming the outermost leaves you will encourage the foliage of each lamb's ear to thicken.
Resources
- Photo Credit static.flickr.com
