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.

Takeaway List: Growing Lavender Made Simple

• Ideal Planting Location: Full sun, well-drained soil, preferably sandy or gravelly.
• Best Planting Time: Spring for colder regions; spring or autumn for warmer areas.
• Growing from Seeds: Start indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; transplant outdoors after hardening off.
• Lavender Care Tips: Water regularly until established, then occasionally; prune after flowering.
• Harvesting Lavender: Pick blooms when they begin to open for the most fragrance.
• Additional Tips: Deadhead spent blooms, mulch to retain moisture, and protect young plants from harsh winter winds.

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

Timing is crucial when growing lavender for healthy, vibrant plants. In warmer climates, the best time to plant lavender is during spring (March to May) or autumn (September to October) when temperatures are mild and the soil is workable. Autumn planting allows roots to establish during cooler months, resulting in stronger growth by spring.

For colder regions, growing lavender is most successful when planted in spring, after the risk of frost has passed. This gives lavender the entire growing season to develop strong roots before facing winter conditions.

If you’re growing lavender in pots, spring is ideal regardless of climate, allowing roots to settle before the heat of summer or the chill of winter. Ensuring proper drainage and full sun exposure is essential for growing lavender successfully in any environment.

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 Lavender

Proper planting is essential for successfully growing lavender. Follow these steps for the best results:

1. Prepare the Planting Site: Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil, as lavender thrives in full sun and loose, sandy or gravelly soil. If your soil is heavy or clay-based, amend it with compost, coarse sand, or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and fertility.
2. Dig the Planting Hole: Make each hole slightly larger than the root ball of the young lavender plant. This allows the roots to spread easily and establish themselves.
3. Planting the Lavender: Gently place the plant in the hole and backfill with soil, pressing it down firmly to eliminate air pockets and provide stability.
4. Watering: Water deeply immediately after planting to help settle the soil around the roots. While lavender is drought-tolerant once established, young plants need consistent moisture during their first growing season.

Growing lavender successfully depends on proper planting techniques, especially when preparing the soil and ensuring good drainage.

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 for Growing Lavender

To ensure success when growing lavender, follow these essential tips:

1. Select the Right Variety: Choose lavender varieties best suited to your climate. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) thrives in cooler regions, while Spanish and French lavenders (Lavandula stoechas and Lavandula dentata) prefer warmer, drier conditions.
2. Encourage Continuous Flowering: Regularly deadhead spent blooms throughout the growing season to promote new growth and prolong flowering. This simple practice is key to growing lavender that stays vibrant and productive.
3. Mulch for Better Growth: Apply a light layer of mulch, such as gravel or coarse bark, around the base of lavender plants. This helps suppress weeds, improves drainage, and retains moisture without causing the soil to become waterlogged.
4. Winter Protection: In colder climates, growing lavender successfully requires some winter care. Protect young or tender plants from harsh winter winds by covering them lightly with horticultural fleece or straw.

Implementing these tips will help you achieve healthy, thriving lavender plants with beautiful, aromatic blooms.

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.