Quck answer
Growing lavender is a simple and rewarding process. Follow these steps to successfully grow your own lavender:
1. Choose the right location: Lavender thrives in well-drained soil under full sun. Pick a sunny spot in your garden or use pots if you have limited space.
2. Prepare the soil: Lavender prefers slightly alkaline soil. Amend the soil with lime if needed, and ensure good drainage by adding organic matter.
3. Planting: Space lavender plants about 2 to 3 feet apart. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball, place the plant, and gently backfill with soil.
4. Watering: Initially, water regularly to establish the plants. Once established, water sparingly, as lavender is drought-tolerant.
5. Pruning: Prune lavender in spring to encourage bushier growth and remove spent flowers to promote new blooms.
6. Harvesting: Harvest lavender when the flowers are fully open. Cut the stems just above the leaves and hang them to dry in a cool, dark place.
By following these steps, you can enjoy the beauty and fragrance of lavender in your garden while also reaping its many benefits.
Have you ever come across Instagram posts of influencers lounging amidst fields of lavender? The sweet fragrance of the purple flowers is almost palpable through the screen. Did you know that you can grow lavender plants (​Lavandula​ spp.) in your own garden? You don’t need to travel miles to enjoy the scent of this flowering perennial.
Lavender is native to the warm, arid regions of Africa, Asia, India, and the Mediterranean. The most popular variety of lavender is English lavender, or ​Lavandula angustifolia​ (USDA hardiness zones 5-8)​.​ With its fragrant foliage and lavender-colored flowers, this plant is relatively easy for home gardeners to grow. Other types of lavender have blue-tinged or dark-purple flowers.
The pollinator-friendly plant is in full bloom during summer and is a low-maintenance choice for attracting beneficial insects to your garden.
What’s the Difference Between English, French, and Spanish Lavender?
English lavender is more compact, and its blooms don’t last as long. However, some cultivars like Hidcote have long-lasting blooms. French lavender (​Lavandula dentata​, zones 8-9) is less hardy than English lavender, while Spanish lavender (​Lavandula stoechas​, zones 7-9) has a less intense aroma than its English counterpart.
Best Uses for Lavender
There are several reasons to consider adding lavender to your garden. It’s easy to grow and is a great addition to areas in your yard that are prone to drought or have poor soil. The woody perennial grows to a maximum of 3 feet in height, making it ideal for filling bare areas in your garden’s middle ground.
Landscaping With Lavender
While people often plant lavender in herb gardens, its attractive foliage can also add visual appeal to flower gardens, even when not in bloom. You can use it as a short border plant or grow masses of it for a more dramatic effect. Lavender’s cool-toned leaves pair well with vibrant green foliage. You can grow lavender in containers or directly in the ground. Flanking your entrance with large, potted lavender plants makes for a stunning porch display. Potted lavender also repels bugs like mosquitoes, making it a popular patio plant. Munstead lavender is a compact English cultivar that’s ideal for containers. Make sure to use containers with drainage holes, like Mkono plastic planter pots, to prevent root rot. By planting lavender along paths and walkways, you can enjoy the scent as you pass by. Lavender also attracts a variety of beneficial insects, making it an excellent candidate for edible gardens.
Benefits of Lavender for Wellness
Lavender is not only a beautiful summer bloom that can be brought indoors, but it also has numerous potential health benefits. A bottle of lavender oil is often included in essential oil sets, and studies suggest that it can help with stress and anxiety. Some individuals use the soothing scent to fall asleep. Those wishing to extract oil from lavender plants should choose Lavandin, a hybrid plant that produces more flowers with high yields of oil. Lavender oil is also frequently used in bath and body products due to its strong scent. There is evidence that it may help with hair loss and various skin conditions, as well as have anti-inflammatory properties to soothe and calm irritated skin.
Cooking with Lavender
Lavender can also be used for cooking, although not everyone is fond of its strong flavor. It is best suited for baking and pairs well with lemon, adding a floral aroma to baked goods. However, it is not recommended for savory dishes. Provence lavender is the best type to choose for culinary creations due to its sweet aroma. Dried sprigs of lavender can also be added to sachets to make homemade potpourri.
How to Grow Lavender
Lavender is a perennial herb that requires full sun and well-draining soil. Young plants should be planted in early spring, while mature plants can be planted in the fall. Lavender can survive in poor soils without much organic matter and is hardy in USDA Zones 5-10, depending on the species and cultivar. Signs of a problem include drooping flowers and yellow foliage, while a healthy plant produces bushy growth with fragrant blooms. Overwatering, overfertilization, or lack of pruning can cause woody growth without many blooms.
Starting Lavender from Seedlings
Nurseries often offer lavender seedlings in the spring, and it is best to choose healthy and pest-free young plants. Seedlings take time to grow, but they are easier to grow than starting from seed. Tender seedlings should be planted in the spring after the risk of frost has passed, while more mature plants can be planted in the fall. When planting, keep the plants at least 2 feet apart and use rocks or gravel to mulch around the lavender to prevent root rot caused by wet mulch types like wood chips.
What is the Best Zone for Lavender Growth?
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Ana Golumbeanu / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages
Lavender grows best in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, although it can tolerate poor soil conditions. However, it requires full sun to thrive and should not be planted in areas where water pools, such as near pools, ponds, hills, or under gutter drainage. Planting lavender near larger structures, such as trees, hedges, or homes, can provide winter shelter. In hot, humid climates, rock mulch can help keep the plants dry and happy. Ensure good air circulation by planting them far apart, especially in humid climates. In colder climates, such as zone 4 and below, lavender should be planted in containers and moved indoors during colder weather.
If you live in an area with freezing winters and hot summers, Grosso lavender is an excellent cultivar to plant. It combines heat tolerance with cold hardiness and is also an excellent oil producer.
When is the Best Time to Plant Lavender?
The best time to plant lavender is in the spring when the soil is warm enough to work and all chance of frost has passed. Planting in partially frozen soil is not recommended. If you’re uncertain, wait until your last frost date has passed, and then wait another two weeks just to be sure. In the fall, plant lavender well in advance so that the newly planted bush can establish itself before a hard freeze.
What are the Soil, Sunlight, and Water Requirements for Lavender?
Lavender can tolerate low fertility soil but requires at least six hours of full sunlight per day. It prefers alkaline soil with a pH of at least 7.0. Lavender is drought-tolerant and prefers dry locations, making it suitable for rock gardens or as an edging plant along pavement. Watering should be done up to twice a week during the first few weeks after planting to help the plant establish itself. After that, watering every few weeks will suffice. Increase waterings to once a week if there is no rainfall during flowering. Overwatering can lead to death, so pay attention to rainfall. If you bring potted lavender inside for the winter, water infrequently since the plant will be in dormancy mode.
How to Propagate Lavender
Propagating lavender is an inexpensive way to populate a garden. Cuttings can be taken from existing plants to create multiple new plants. However, it is illegal to propagate patented cultivars for personal or commercial use.
- To propagate lavender, cut a branch without any buds or blooms, ensuring that you get an inch of the woody stem.
- Eliminate the lower leaves from the branch.
- Dip the fresh cutting into a rooting hormone bought from a store.
- Place the dipped cutting into a sterile seed-starting mix or potting mix.
- Water the cutting daily, making sure the soil stays damp.
- Transplant the plant outdoors as soon as it has several sets of leaves, weather permitting. Remember to harden off any indoor-started or propagated plants.
How to Prepare Lavender for Winter
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Natalia Spiridonova/iStock/GettyImages
In zones 5 through 9, lavender should be able to survive the winter without issue. In zones 4 and colder, you may be able to overwinter lavender if you plant it close to southern walls or structures.
If you have trouble keeping lavender alive through the winter, it may be due to too much moisture. Ensure that you plant lavender away from areas where water pools. You can also cut flower stalks before winter to help the plant enter dormancy. In colder regions, plant lavender in pots and move them indoors when frost sets in.
How to Harvest Lavender
Harvesting lavender to display flowers, cook with it, or make bath products is as simple as cutting the flower stalks when at least half of the flower buds are open.
Cut the flower stem above the junction where new growth, leaves, or buds are starting to form. This allows the side leaves to continue producing flowers. For larger plants, you can clip off more of the stem.
Lavender flowers, fresh or dried, make a stunning addition to cut flower bouquets. If you want to capture the potent lavender scent, harvest flower spikes in the morning.
Common Pests and Problems for Lavender
Lavender has few natural pests. Excess moisture is the greatest threat. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
If you don’t prune regularly, lavender plants can become leggy. Prune lavender plants annually when new growth appears in the spring. You can tell that the growth is new because it will be green. To prevent the plant from becoming too woody and leggy, prune up to a third of the top of larger, more mature lavender bushes. Pruning aids in maintaining a nice, bushy appearance. Prune less if the plant is young or compact. Use sharp, clean gardening shears like the gonicc 8-inch professional premium pruning shears to prune lavender plants.
Common Diseases for Lavender
Most fungal diseases are caused by excess water or humidity. Leaf spot is a fungal disease that sometimes affects lavender plants. Fungicides can help prevent the spread of fungal diseases like this, but they won’t cure them.
FAQ
1. What is the best location to grow lavender?
To grow lavender successfully, you should choose a location with full sun exposure. Lavender plants thrive in warm climates and require at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Avoid planting lavender in shady areas or where it may be shaded by other plants or structures.
2. How do I prepare the soil for growing lavender?
Lavender prefers well-draining soil, so it is important to prepare the soil before planting. Mix in organic matter such as compost or aged manure to improve drainage and fertility. Additionally, you can add sand or gravel to the soil to enhance drainage even further.
3. When is the best time to plant lavender?
The best time to plant lavender is in the spring, after the last frost has passed. Lavender is a perennial plant, and it needs time to establish its roots before the colder months. Planting lavender in the spring allows it to grow and develop strong roots before winter arrives.
4. How often should I water lavender?
Lavender is drought-tolerant and does not require frequent watering. It is important to water newly planted lavender regularly until it becomes established. After that, lavender only needs to be watered when the soil is dry to the touch. Overwatering can cause root rot and other problems, so it is best to err on the side of underwatering.
5. How do I prune lavender?
Pruning lavender is essential to maintain its shape and promote healthy growth. In early spring, prune back the lavender plant by removing about one-third of the top growth. This encourages new growth and prevents the plant from becoming woody. Additionally, remove spent blooms throughout the growing season to encourage continuous flowering.
6. Can lavender be grown in containers?
Yes, lavender can be grown in containers. Choose a container with good drainage and use a well-draining potting mix. Place the container in a sunny location and water the lavender when the soil is dry. Container-grown lavender may require more frequent watering than those planted in the ground. Prune the lavender regularly to keep it compact and promote healthy growth.
7. How do I harvest and use lavender?
To harvest lavender, wait until the buds have fully opened but before they begin to fade. Cut the stems just above the leaves and hang them upside down in a well-ventilated area to dry. Once dried, you can remove the buds from the stems and store them in airtight containers. Lavender buds can be used in various ways, including making sachets, potpourri, or adding them to culinary dishes and teas for a floral flavor.