chamomile

[Andy Hamilton]

The chamomile lawn on our allotment is starting to look good -



Should we start to cut it back, or just leave it to grow? The idea was to have a chamomile lawn but as it is approaching nearly a foot tall I wondered if this was normal? (it is the patch in the middle BTW)

[red]

I have just planted my chamomile lawn - looks like plugs in the earth at the mo - did you buy lawn chamomile.. or ordinary?
the seed packet i have says trim with shears or hover mower (shears it is then) - doesn't seem to think it will be a foot tall by then - wonder if you can trim it down?

[Andy Hamilton]

Might have to trim it down, the trouble is I am not sure what type of chamomile came up as I planted 2 different sorts - I should keep a better record as I am not sure what either of them are

[red]

well it looks livier than mine,

although if you look at my seed tray there is hope yet.. as that is looking more lawn like!


to be honest Andy, I think I would leave yours alone as it looks nice amongst the other plants.. and might give you some flowers... but i dunno much about chamomile..

[ohareward]

A chamomile lawn.
The main problem is that it requires regular hand weeding to keep it looking good and does not take heavy wear. The trick is to think small - grow it as a scaled-down version of a lawn. Yours looks pretty good Red.
Plant it around a fountain or a mini-lawn between paving stones.
Use rooted cuttings or offsets of non-flowering Chamaemelum nobile, 'Treneague'.
Choose an area with light, preferably sandy soil, prepare it well, eliminating weeds and removing stones. Rake in a little peat to hold water and help the plants settle in quickly.
Set plants 10 cm (4 in) apart, water them in and keep lighly moist until established.
To maintain the lawn, weed regularly and fill in any gaps that appear with new plants.

Robin

[Millymollymandy]

I have what I think is chamomile growing here and there in the lawn and in the bits of the chicken run where there is no grass anymore, just the odd weed. It has daisy like flowers. Is that chamomile? It'll be a wild variety if it is.

[the.fee.fairy]

I've got some chamomile growing in the middle of the lawn - at either end of the middle bit (for those that have seen the pics).

The advice is was given is:

Tread on it, it enjoys it.
Give it a good trim every now and then
When the middle dies, then take a bit from the outside and fill it in to get a proper lawn effect.

Hope that helps

[baldowrie]

If it is about a foot tall then it's the wrong chamomile for lawns. The idea with lawn chamomile is that it shouldn't need cutting, and then only once a year if really necessary

http://www.crocus.co.uk/whatsgoingon/article/?ID=254

http://www.camomilelawns.co.uk/

[the.fee.fairy]

M3 - Chamomile flowers are like little daisies. It has a nice smell to it, its quite babyish and creamy (if that makes sense).

[Andy Hamilton]

If it is about a foot tall then it's the wrong chamomile for lawns. The idea with lawn chamomile is that it shouldn't need cutting, and then only once a year if really necessary

http://www.crocus.co.uk/whatsgoingon/article/?ID=254

http://www.camomilelawns.co.uk/

Yep, I thought as much. I think mine is german chamomile, so should be good for chamomile tea at least.

[p999j]

I have some treneague and some of the non-lawn version. I regularly trim back the latter, and put the cuttings along with some dried lavender (of which I have loads) into a muslin bag and hang it over the hot water tap when I'm having an evening bath. It is soooooooo relaxing. It can be used for a few baths then it starts to smell a bit like cats pee (not that attractive really!) but get the candles lit, try it, and your woman will love you forever..... (I mean if you prepare the bath for her...if you use it yourself, the relaxing scent will send her off to sleep...maybe not the reaction you want...?)

[Clara]

[quote="Andy HamiltonYep, I thought as much. I think mine is german chamomile, so should be good for chamomile tea at least.[/quote]

You could always fill a jar with some and cover with sunflower oil. Left in the sun for a few weeks you will then have a very soothing oil to treat any skin complaint.