A Guide to Growing Lavender

Bringing Fragrance and Beauty to Your Garden: A Guide to Growing Lavender

Lavender, with its silvery foliage and aromatic blooms, is a quintessential element of any garden. Beyond its captivating scent, it attracts beneficial insects, thrives in sunny landscapes, and requires minimal maintenance. If you’re looking to add this beloved herb to your own green haven, this guide will lead you through the steps of growing lavender, from planting to flourishing.

Bring the Beauty and Fragrance of Lavender to Your Garden

Growing lavender is a rewarding experience that adds serenity and charm to any landscape. With these simple steps and a little love, you can cultivate this fragrant herb and enjoy its beauty and benefits for years to come.

• Where to plant lavender
• When to plant lavender
• How to grow lavender from seeds
• How to plant lavender
• Lavender plant care
• Additional tips
• Harvesting lavender
• Frequently asked questions about growing lavender

Where to Plant Lavender

Lavender thrives in sun-drenched locations with well-drained soil. Opt for slightly sloping areas or raised beds for optimal drainage, as this plant dislikes damp, waterlogged soil. Sandy or gravelly soils are ideal, as they allow water to quickly pass through.

When to Plant Lavender

The best time to plant lavender depends on your climate and growing method. In warmer climates, planting can be done in spring (March to May) or autumn (September to October). For colder regions, spring planting is preferable to ensure the plants establish themselves before winter.

How to Grow Lavender

From Seeds

1. Sow seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost in individual pots filled with sandy potting mix. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
2. Place the pots in a sunny location at room temperature.
3. Once seedlings have developed several true leaves, harden them off gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions for increasing periods over a week.
4. After the last frost, transplant seedlings to their permanent location with a spacing of 12–18 inches, depending on the variety.

Planting

1. Dig planting holes slightly larger than the root ball of the young plants.
2. Mix compost or well-rotted manure into the soil to improve drainage and fertility.
3. Place the plant in the hole and backfill it with soil, firmly tamping it down to secure it.
4. Water the plant deeply.

Lavender Plant Care

• Watering: Newly planted lavender requires regular watering until established. Once mature, they are drought-tolerant and only need occasional deep watering during hot or dry periods.
• Fertilizing: Lavender prefers lean soil and doesn’t require much fertilizing. Avoid over-fertilization, as it can encourage leggy growth and reduce flowering.
• Pruning: Prune lavender after flowering to maintain its shape and encourage bushier growth. Pinch back flower spikes by about one-third. Avoid cutting into woody stems.

Additional Tips

• Choose lavender varieties suitable for your climate.
• Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering.
• Mulch around lavender plants to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
• Protect young lavender plants from harsh winter winds with a light covering.

Harvesting and Enjoying Lavender

Harvest lavender blooms just as they begin to open, when the aroma is at its peak. Tie stems together and hang them upside down in a cool, dark place to dry. Dried lavender can be used in pot-pourri, sachets, soaps, and culinary applications.

FAQs on the topic of growing lavender

For more information about growing lavender, please visit this article on the RHS website. You may also be interested in this article about attracting bees and butterflies to your garden.