What do lavender plants need to thrive?
Light: Lavender needs full sun and well-drained soil to grow best. In hot summer climates, afternoon shade may help them thrive. Soil: Lavender grows best in low to moderately-fertile soils, so don't amend the soil with organic matter before planting. Lavender performs best in neutral to slightly alkaline soils.
Lavender plant generally needs more Nitrogen than Phosphorus and Potassium, in order to thrive and give high yields for many years. In most cases, the plant responds greatly to Nitrogen supply.
Lavenders thrive in the arid West, but are best grown as annuals or container plants in the South, as they do not thrive in areas of high humidity (with the exception of Lavandula dentata and L. stoechas). Most are hardy from Zones 5 to 9; Spanish Lavender (L. stoechas) is only hardy in Zones 7 to 9.
Plant lavender in a spot that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day (“full sun”). Lavender thrives in most soil qualities, from poor to moderately fertile. Lavender makes only one demand of soil: It must drain well. Standing water and wet areas could encourage root rot.
A low nitrogen fertilizer formulated to encourage blooming is best, but general-purpose fertilizer will also work if it's diluted. Logee's Plants recommends feeding only during the spring and summer months with a 7-9-5 or 15-15-15 fertilizer. Dilute 1/2 teaspoon of fertilizer in 1 gallon of water.
To increase the amount lavender blooms, plant lavender in full sun, with sandy soil and prune in the Spring to stimulate more growth to support more blooms. Watering lavender too frequently and adding fertilizer can stress the plant which causes fewer blooms.
Lavender Care
Plant lavender in full sun and well-drained soil (add organic matter to improve heavy soils). Starting with the proper conditions is essential for successfully growing lavender. Water plants deeply but infrequently, when the soil is almost dry. Prune every year immediately after bloom.
Lavenders do not like acidic soils and so if your soil is acidic, ensure to add lime as lavenders prefer alkaline soil or a soil with higher pH. As a result of this, lavenders do not like coffee grounds.
Miracle-Gro Gardening All-Purpose Soil is the BEST ground soil for its price. Not only will it feed your plants for up to 3 months, but it's the perfect way to replenish soil to help improve lavender, annual plants, and even perennials.
Lavender is drought-tolerant, which means mature plants don't need to be watered all the time like your other garden plants. Too much water can leave them susceptible to root rot and fungal disease. Young, newly planted lavender does need regular watering until established (either by irrigation or adequate rainfall).
What soil does lavender like?
Lavenders thrive in an open site in full sun in a well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil (got acid soil? Try French lavender, Lavandula stoechas, instead). They cope well with drought conditions and may suffer in wet, heavy soils, particularly over winter.
The most common reasons for a Lavender plant dying are improper watering, over-fertilization, acidic soil pH, diseases, pests, or inadequate sunlight. Careful inspection of the plant and growing conditions are essential to help identify and fix the issue.
Lavenders do not need additional feeding or fertilizing as they're adapted to living in sandy, relatively low fertility soils in the Mediterranean region of Europe. Adding fertilizer will cause the lavender to produce fewer flowers, less fragrance and grow a leggy, untidy appearance.
Potted lavenders will need to be watered once every two weeks during the growing season with around 35 ounces of water (1 litre) if there has been no rainfall and persistent sunshine. Water in the morning, at the base of the plant and try to avoid dampening the foliage.
Lavender is a slow grower and may take one to three months to reach transplanting size. The greatest threat to lavender seeds and seedlings is fungus. Keep soil mix moist, but provide good air circulation to help reduce disease outbreaks.
Yes, there seem to be good, relevant reasons for using Epsom salts for plants. Epsom salt helps improve flower blooming and enhances a plant's green color. It can even help plants grow bushier. Epsom salt is made up of hydrated magnesium sulfate (magnesium and sulfur), which is important to healthy plant growth.
In most cases, eggshells help improve the soil pH and increase or decrease it to a neutral level. For example, lavender does not enjoy acidic soil. If the soil in your region is acidic, mix eggshells in it to make the soil neutral and tolerable for the plant to grow properly.
The best (and only) time for fertilizing lavender is in the springtime at the start of the growing season. The easiest and best thing to do is to put down an inch (2.5 cm.) of good compost around the plant. This should provide plenty of nutrients for the year to come.
Prune for healthier lavender plants
An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp. and hybrids) plants. Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open — it looks bad and shortens the plant's lifespan.
The only way to revive lavender that has been in the shade is to transfer it to a pot and place it in the sun as quickly as possible. Lavenders require sun all year round, including during the winter dormancy so plant the lavender in a nice open space that is not under a tree canopy or any other shade.
How do you keep lavender looking nice?
Ideally, you should prune lavender twice a year – once in the spring just as the fresh growth starts coming in, and once in the summer right after it's done blooming. Summer pruning, which helps to keep the plant looking nice and encourages more flowers, is optional.
Its easy-care attributes mean that it doesn't want any chemical help to grow and, once established, requires almost no watering. Its nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies, bees and other beneficial pollinators to the garden – more important than ever, now that these are being threatened worldwide.
Lavender needs full sun and good drainage. It is more likely to die from excess moisture than from cold in winter. A pot is an excellent way to provide drainage, though the plant will be more vulnerable to cold temperatures than it would be in the ground.
The ideal soil mix for lavender in pots and containers is 30% course sand or gravel to 70% organic compost or potting soil. Add in a tablespoon of garden lime to the mix to raise the pH so that it is slightly alkaline. This soil mix replicates the optimal soil conditions of the lavenders natural Mediterranean range.
Any lavender variety will grow in a container and can be clipped in decorative balls and cones, but some are better suited than others. They produce flowers fast and maintain a manageable size in pots.
If your soil is acidic, add lime, because lavender likes a higher pH or alkaline soil. Fertilizers if you are organic: bone meal, blood meal or kelp. Be careful not to over water your plant. Initially, it needs a little water every day especially if it is hot outside.
As the dry flowers infuse in the oil, the natural essential oils in lavender are drawn out and into the carrier oil. Popular carrier oil options include extra virgin olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, and many more.
Lavenders appreciate full sun. Grow them in shade and they grow out towards the sunlight, and they like a well-drained soil. They don't like wet feet. They don't need a lot of fertiliser but some dolomitic lime in spring and autumn helps, and add some potassium to intensify the colour and strengthen the stems.
Lavender must have full sun exposure with 8 hours of direct sunlight per-day. Afternoon shade is appropriate only in very hot climates. 6 hours of sun a day is enough during very high temperatures. Lavender should have well-drained soil regardless of sun exposure.
| Lavender Stage | How Often to Water Lavender |
|---|---|
| Newly Planted Lavender | Water every other day for the first week after planting to mitigate transplant shock. Water every 3 days in the first three months (if planted in spring and summer). |
Does lavender like full sun?
Lavender can be grown in garden beds or in pots. To grow lavender successfully it needs well-drained soil and full sun. In arid climates lavender grows well as a perennial, but in humid climates it is often grown as an annual.
Lavender prefers sandy soils because of the large air spaces between soil particles, and the rapid drainage those air spaces provide. As soil types transition from sand to loam to clay, they become progressively worse for lavender production.
Because lavender loves full sun and dry conditions, it doesn't do well with perennials or annuals that prefer shade. Plants such as some types of impatiens, hosta, camellias and fuschia are not as drought-resistant, so their need for water may drown out lavender.
Watering. Newly planted lavender should be watered regularly during its first summer. After that, once it's well established, lavender is drought tolerant so rarely needs watering when grown in the ground unless there are severe drought conditions.
In cold climates with English lavenders the old growth may turn a gray colour and appear dead after a harsh Winter but it will come back with new growth and stems emerging in the Spring.
The peak bloom of lavender (Lavandula) is in the summer months from July to August.
Overwatered lavender may have yellowing leaves, initially on the lower leaves. Dropping, a rotting odor, and of course sodden soil are also indicators of an overwatered lavender dying. Underwatered lavender will droop and the soil will feel completely dried out.
When sited correctly and pruned judiciously, lavenders should live for five to seven years. Although lavender is fairly drought tolerant, adequate moisture is required throughout the growing season. Most critical are the weeks after planting to ensure that soil around the rootball does not dry out.
That's true if you over water lavender, too. How big do you want your lavender to be when it's full grown? It takes lavender around three years to grow to its full size.
Lavenders are native to sun drenched countries where they receive full sun all day. Lavenders will not grow at all well in the shade let alone bloom well and require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day so make sure you position them in the sunniest location of your garden.
How do you keep lavender plants alive?
Place your container grown lavender plants somewhere they receive full sun (at least eight hours per day) and water them sparingly. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, but don't let it get so dry that the plant wilts. Lavender likes heat, and many varieties won't survive a cold winter.
Lavenders typically need to be watered once every two weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). Outdoor lavenders will not need watering in Fall or Winter as they are in a dormant state and will attain enough water easily from the weather.
All lavender plants grow well in pots and containers due to the favorable drainage conditions, however there are some lavender cultivars that are most suited to growing in pots then others.
Lavenders thrive in sandy, well draining soil with a low to medium level of fertility. Lavenders can grow in mildly acidic soils but prefer to grow in soils that are pH neutral or slightly alkaline. Lavenders grow very well in naturally sandy or chalk soils.
Proper Pruning
If they are dead, then remove them all the way to living tissue. Pruning lavender right after it is done flowering each year produces the plant's best flower production and general health. Use grass or hedge shears to trim the entire plant back into its healthy foliage.
Simply cut the deadwood out with clean shears, doing your best to avoid cutting or damaging the live portions of the plant (lavender is hardy so don't be fearful – just mindful.) It is not uncommon for sections of a plant to look grey/dead when the rest is green, then suddenly come to life a few weeks later.
Overwatered lavender may have yellowing leaves, initially on the lower leaves. Dropping, a rotting odor, and of course sodden soil are also indicators of an overwatered lavender dying. Underwatered lavender will droop and the soil will feel completely dried out.
Miracle Grow Expand N Gro Soil is the perfect substitute for any gardener who has a gardening need for both soil and potting mix. It can be used in the ground and in containers! By using this soil you can expect your lavender plants to grow three times bigger within 6 months of use.
Little feeding is required, although a sprinkling of potash around the base of plants will encourage more prolific flowering and improved flower colour. Don't add bulky manure or high nitrogen feed as your lavenders in particular, will grow very sappy and flop open.
Lavender tends to be trouble-free, if grown in the conditions it enjoys. A sun-drenched spot with free-draining soil is ideal. However, if grown in wet or heavy soil, lavender can suffer root rots, leading to its premature demise. To prevent this, grow in a raised bed or container if you have these conditions.
Can I cut lavender back to the ground?
Just remember to always prune lavender above the leaves. Never cut lavender back to wood below all of the growth, because lavender will not grow back from old wood. Step 3: Cut off any dead branches – You can cut any dead branches all the way down to get rid of them.
