How to Grow Lavender

Lavender is a Mediterranean plant (in needs if not always in geographic origin) and needs lots of sun and fast-draining soil. It will not survive long in shady, damp or extremely cold conditions. It prefers poor, dry or moderately fertile soil, including chalky and alkaline soils.

Where does lavender grow best?
Is Lavender easy to grow?
Does lavender grow back every year?
Can lavender grow in pots?
What can I plant next to lavender?
What is the best fertilizer for lavender?
Should you water lavender?
Which lavender is easiest to grow?
Are lavender plants low maintenance?
Which lavender smells the most?
What happens if you don't prune lavender?
Does a lavender plant spread?

Where does lavender grow best?

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.

Is Lavender easy to grow?

Growing lavender is easy and rewarding. 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.

Does lavender grow back every year?

Lavender is a perennial herb that continues to grow each year. ... Lavender is a woody perennial, so it does continue to grow from year to year, but the stems remain upright through the winter in preparation for new spring growth. With proper care and pruning, lavender will survive in the garden for years to come.

Can lavender grow in pots?

Start with large pots, as lavender plants can grow to the size of small shrubs. Twelve- to 16-inch containers do the job nicely. Fill the bottom inch or two of the container with Styrofoam peanuts or gravel to facilitate swift drainage. Add a tablespoon of lime to the potting mix after filling the container.

What can I plant next to lavender?

Herbs: Basil and oregano increase the vitality and growth of nearby lavender plants by repelling aphids and various species of flies. Brassicas: Edging cabbage and cauliflower patches with lavender is one way to repel harmful insects like moths, which like to lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves.

What is the best fertilizer for lavender?

Organic lavender growers often add 8-10 tons of well-rotted manure per hectare and plow well before they transplant the young plants. Then, every 2-3 years, they add 5-6 tons of manure per hectare, most often during the autumn.

Should you water lavender?

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.

Which lavender is easiest to grow?

English lavenders are the easiest lavenders to grow, with varieties such as 'Munstead' and 'Hidcote' regarded as the easiest and most versatile lavender varieties as they require minimal maintenance and can survive in both hot and cold climates.

Are lavender plants low maintenance?

Grow lavender in your garden and you'll be rewarded with colorful flowers and wonderful fragrance—all from a low-maintenance plant. ... Lavender is native to the Western Mediterranean, which offers plenty of heat and sun.

Which lavender smells the most?

The most fragrant Lavender plants are the Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia). Several cultivars of English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) are also prized for their delightful scent. Lavandula x intermedia, also called Lavandin, is a hybrid cross between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia.

What happens if you don't prune lavender?

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.

Does a lavender plant spread?

How much is it likely to spread? Lavender is a small shrub that usually grows 20 to 24 inches tall and wide. The height includes the flower stalks, so when not in bloom, the foliage may be only a foot tall. The plant does not spread as thyme, oregano, and other herbs tend to.