The lavender fields of southern France are legendary for their perfume production, but North American cities also make use of this aromatic plant as well.
In California, there is a type used by businesses to scent their parking lots since it tolerates heat and drought conditions better than other types do–showing how tough these plants can be!
Lavender is a great plant for any garden, but it’s especially popular in formal flower beds. Lavenders can be clipped to form low hedges or used as an aromatic border along paths and around edging stones on patios.
Lavender are great herbs for everyone as they have cool gray-green leaves with dark green accents and look stunning everywhere you place them. The smell of this charming herb will make you feel at peace no matter where your attention may fall!
Lavender is a plant that can be grown in containers. It thrives on dry land, but does better when there’s more moisture around for the roots to grab onto.
If you live at higher elevations or have an arid climate- then this is the perfect environment where the Lavender thrives, but if you live somewhere around the Deep South keep in mind that lavenders are typically considered annuals.
Quick Guide to Growing Lavender
- Plant lavender in spring, once all chances of frost have passed. This beautiful herb with a refreshing aroma is great for adding beauty and fragrance to your home or garden!
- Space lavender plants 12 to 18 inches apart in an area with plenty of sunlight and sandy, well-drained soil that has a pH level between 6.7 – 7 .3 will thrive best!
- If you want to give your young plants an excellent start this season, mix in several inches of compost or other rich organic matter into their native soil.
- Lavender is a hardy plant that can survive in dry conditions. When you notice the top 2 inches of soil are starting to dry out, water lavenders!
- To give your plants the best chance of success, feed them with water-soluble plant food regularly.
- Harvest stems once they’re large enough for use. Avoid harvesting more than one-third of the plant at a time, as this may cause transplant shock and reduce overall harvest quality.
Soil, Planting, and Care
Planting lavender is easy if you follow these guidelines. Make sure to choose strong, vigorous young plants and keep them 12-18 inches apart in an open area with full sun for best results!
Plant lavender in well-drained soil with a pH between 6.7 – 7.3, to help the plant tolerate heavy rainfall and damp conditions; avoid planting it near sources of standing water or on poorly drained plots because these will cause rot! You could also add builders sand (or other lightweight aggregate) before planting for better drainage options.
To further improve drainage, plant lavender in a raised bed filled with premium soil along the wall or near any slope.
In an herb or perennial bed, ensure good drainage by planting lavender on a small mound. When growing in pottery containers take care to use top quality soil mix.
The way to get the best bloom is by making sure you feed your lavender flowers regularly with an organic plant food. This will make them beautiful and fragrant!
Troubleshooting
Lavender is a delicate flower that needs good drainage and air circulation. Make sure you don’t over-water the plant or allow it to sit in one spot for too long, as this can cause fungus problems like browning leaves from excessive moisture!
To avoid this problem, mulch with pebbles or sprinkle sand around the base of your plant for faster evaporation. If you cut blooms, trim in a way that thins out plants and leaves have more open space to allow better air circulation.
Harvest and Storage
Harvest lavender in all its glory by cutting the stems anytime. I prefer to cut just before they are fully open, so that you can enjoy their beautiful fragrance for months!
To dry flowers, gather a bunch of stems and hang them upside-down in a dark well ventilated place to preserve the color while maintaining its shape.