Where to Plant Lavender
When planting lavender, take your cues from the fields in Provence and plant it in the sunniest spot possible with excellent drainage. Lavender can tolerate drought, heat, and wind, but it does not do well in soggy soil. In its native habitat in the Mediterranean, lavender grows in rocky, slightly alkaline soils and performs best in a pH range of 6.5 to 8.2. The more your planting site mimics these conditions, the better the plant will do.
When designing a garden bed with lavender, consider the mature growth of surrounding plants and give lavender a spot where other plants won’t cast any shade on it.
How and When to Plant Lavender
Give each lavender plenty of space to promote good air circulation. Spacing should be at least 18 to 24 inches, depending on the variety. ‘Edelweiss’, for example, is one of the tallest lavenders that grows to 2 feet, so it needs about the same spacing as its height. Especially in areas of high humidity, air circulation is key to keeping lavender plants happy.
Dig a hole that easily fits the diameter of the root ball. Lavender has shallow roots about 8 to 10 inches deep, so the planting hole does not need to be much deeper. Mulching around the plant is always a good idea to keep weeds out. Using gravel or black mulch also helps increase the heat around the roots.
Before acquiring a new plant, make sure your environment meets its needs. Not every plant will do well in every location.
Lavender Care Tips
Light
Always grow lavender in full sun, where it can receive at least 8-10 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Soil and Water
Lavender roots need many spaces between soil particles to breathe and grow, so this herb is well suited to sandy or rocky soil. If your garden has heavy clay soil that retains moisture, lavender roots rot and die. You can add plenty of organic material to the top 4 to 8 inches to create better soil structure. Many commercial lavender growers use raised beds to improve drainage, a technique that can be borrowed for the home garden.
Soil pH is also a factor. Lavender grows best in neutral to alkaline soil with a pH of 6.5 to 8.2. Test your soil to be sure.
Lavender only needs watering until it is established; it is otherwise drought-resistant.
Temperature and Humidity
If you live in a cold climate, USDA Hardiness Zone 4 or colder, lavender plants may not grow back the following spring unless you choose the hardiest varieties and offer winter protection.
Snow cover is one of the best insulators for tender plants. If you don't have a reliable amount of snow, protect your plants from winter damage by covering them with dry leaves or straw overlaid with burlap to protect them from drying winds and ice. Remove the covering in early spring to allow the soil to warm and give plants good air circulation.
Fertilizer
Lavender does not need to be fertilized; in fact, it does better in poor soil. Overfertilizing it can lead to excessive but weak foliage growth and no flowers.
Pruning and Harvesting Lavender
Wait until lavender plants begin growing in spring to prune them. Prune about one-third to one-half of the plant; if you cut it back so hard that only woody stems show, the plant may die.
After the first flowering, deadheading may encourage some plants to rebloom. You can lightly shape the plant now, but hold off on major pruning until the following spring. Even with the best care, recognize that lavender plants are short-lived, lasting 10 to 15 years.
To harvest lavender, gather blossoms when they have just opened. Use individual blooms fresh, discarding the little brown or green caps that hold them to the stems. Or cut entire flower stems to dry.
Potting and Repotting Lavender
Gardeners with little in-ground growing space or heavy soil may want to grow lavender in pots. Choose a pot that's just slightly larger than the root ball and has a drainage hole. Clay pots offer better air circulation and dry out faster than plastic or ceramic pots. Plant in a soilless potting mix, such as one designed for growing cactus or succulents, to ensure excellent drainage.
Water sparingly, but don't let the plants dry out completely. If you use a saucer below the pot, always drain off excess water. Keep the pots in full sun outdoors. You can grow lavender indoors but recognize that the amount of light inside a house may never be enough to get flowers.
Pests and Problems
Lavender doesn't have any major pests, but root rot and leaf spot can bother this herb. Avoid overwatering and maintain good air circulation to minimize these problems.
How to Propagate Lavender
Lavender plants can be propagated from seed or cuttings.
Propagate Lavender with Seeds
Lavender can be grown from seed, but it takes up to three years to grow into a substantial enough size for harvesting. Start with seeds from a seed catalog. Because most lavenders are a cross of two species, you won't get good results with seeds you collected from your plants.
Starting seeds indoors is a good idea to get a head start on the growing season. Plant lavender seeds 1 inch apart, just barely covered with a seed-starting potting mix, and keep the container moist but not waterlogged in a warm (65 to 70°F) location. Germination starts in two to four weeks.
When plants reach 2 to 3 inches tall, lavender seedlings should acclimate to outdoor conditions by gradually increasing the exposure they receive. Once "hardened off," plant them outdoors in a sunny, well-drained spot.
Propagating Lavender from Cuttings
Most lavenders, especially lavandin, start with cuttings instead of seeds. Do not propagate any plants that are protected by patent.
- Cut a 4-to 6-inch stem from a healthy plant in late spring or early summer. Remove all the leaves from the bottom third of the cutting.
- Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder and insert it in a 4-inch pot filled with damp potting mix.
- Place the pot in a sunny location and keep the soil evenly moist.
- After two to three months, roots have formed when you gently tug on the cutting and it does not move.
- Wait for the plant to show vigorous new growth before planting it in a larger pot or landscape.
Types of Lavender
There are many species and hundreds of lavender varieties. Here are a few of the best to grow in gardens.
English Lavender
Considered one of the hardiest lavender, English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has dozens of cultivars to choose from. Popular English lavenders include 'Munstead' and 'Hidcote'. They grow well in locations with mild summer heat in Zones 5-9 and reach about 2 feet in height.
Lavandin
These popular lavender types are a cross (Lavandula x intermedia) between English lavender and spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia). Lavandin is equally hardy, usually to Zone 5. Due to its larger flower spike size, this type of lavender is often grown commercially for essential oils.
Spanish Lavender
A lavender that works well in warmer climates (down to Zone 7), Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) has large gray-green leaves and a stout, cylindrical flower head. These are often the earliest lavenders to bloom.
Garden Plans for Lavender
French Kitchen Garden Plan
During the Middle Ages, monks in France typically created kitchen gardens with geometrically shaped beds separated by paths and enclosed within a wall or hedge. This French-style kitchen garden plan reflects this aesthetic with a central diamond-shaped bed and four larger raised beds, with wide brick pathways running between them. It calls for 29 Spanish lavender plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are some ways to enjoy the flavors of lavender?
- Use dried lavender flowers for seasoning desserts, such as cookies, cakes, and ice cream, or as an edible garnish. Lavender blends deliciously with mint and lemon to brew a refreshing tea. Or try blending your own Herbes de Provence mix by combining dried lavender blooms with thyme, basil, fennel, and savory. Use this blend to season grilled meats and other savory dishes.
- What's the best way to dry lavender?
- Cut stems just before they reach peak bloom, snipping them as long as possible. Remove the lower leaves along each stem, bundle 4-6 stems together with a string or rubber band, and hang upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area until dry. To dry just the lavender flowers, remove them from the stem and place them on a flat surface in a dark, dry location.
- Are lavender plants toxic to animals?
- Lavender plants are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. If your pet tends to chew on plants, it's best to keep these herbs far away from your companion animal. Lavender is unsafe for these animals to consume because it contains linalool, a compound that is toxic to many animals.
