The lavender plant is a native plant grown in many regions throughout the Mediterranean. It has a very long and colorful history that goes back to the Old World.
Today, the lavender plant is one of the most popular ornamental plants that can be added in a myriad of different kinds of gardens.
The lavender plant is not just used for landscaping or for improving the aesthetic appeal of gardens and outdoor spaces; it is also used in a whole bunch of different home applications and for medicinal purposes.
The lavender plant is generally grouped into four different genres, each of which have a number of different hybrids. These hybrids have been cultivated for very specific growing conditions and have been adapted for climates all around the globe.
This is an incredibly hardy plant that doesn’t require a whole lot of care or attention during the growing season. Once the plant has established itself, it’s also an excellent pollinator that is going to give you some of the most beautiful blooms you might have ever seen.
Your entire garden will turn a shade of lavender as the plant continues to grow. You should also know that the lavender plant is incredibly resistant to drought and does not need a lot of care and maintenance.
This is mainly because of the robust essential oil that is produced by the plant, which makes it incredibly undesirable for pests and other rodents.
The lavender plant is capable of reaching a height of up to 24 meters if it is grown properly. However, if you want your lavender plant to reach such heights, you have to understand that caring for the plant is quite important.
The lavender plant requires heat and doesn’t like water. It needs a bit of space around it, and the plant generally thrives on lean soil. If you have planted lots of lavenders in a small and confined spot, the chances of a bloom are going to decrease.
Here is a brief guide to help you grow the lavender plant in a proper manner.
How to Grow Lavender
The ideal time to plant the lavender is during the spring after you are sure that there is no threat of a frost. The lavender can be a fantastic addition to a raised bed garden or an in-ground garden.
You can also grow it really well in containers.
When planting the lavender, it is imperative that you space each of the plants at a gap of at least 12 inches and a maximum of 18 inches. The spot you choose to plant the lavender should receive lots of sunlight and it should ideally have a balanced soil, with a pH value between 6.7 and 7.3.
The soil should also be well-drained and a sandy texture is an ideal choice.
To give your plants a great start in the growing season, you should consider mixing rich organic matter as well as a bit of compost into the soil. This will ensure that the nutrient requirements of the plant are met and it is able to grow quickly.
The best thing about the lavender plant is that it is capable of surviving in drier conditions without much of a problem. As a result of that, you will only have to water the plant when you notice that the soil is dry from the top couple of inches.
Once the stems are large enough for use, you can harvest them. It is important, however, that you do not harvest more than one-third of the plant at one time.
Planting and Care
This is fairly simple: you should set the plant at least 12 to 18 inches apart in an area that receives maximum sunlight. Make sure that the air circulation is also good enough.
When selecting young lavender plants from the nursery, it’s best to take a close look. Only choose strong plants that are going to survive for a longer period.
Once you bring them home, you can plant them in slightly alkaline soil. It should also be well-drained, as highlighted above. The best way to improve the texture and make it a bit sandy is to add a bit of builder’s sand into the mix.
This is going to increase the amount of drainage in the soil and that’s critically important. The lavender is not able to tolerate high amounts of humidity and/or poor drainage.
To increase the drainage even more, you should plant the lavender in a raised bed, and then fill it with high-quality soil that’s specially made for raised beds. There are a number of choices available to you, so it’s important that you choose one carefully.
You can also plant the lavender alongside a running wall or just close to the top of a slope. If you are going to plant the lavender in a perennial bed, you have to make sure that the water doesn’t stick around by creating a small mound where the lavender is kept.
Again, the concept is similar to a raised bed.
There are several simple tips that you should follow if you want your lavender to grow quickly. It’s important for you to make sure that you follow the tips given below if you want your lavender to reach the maximum height.
Light and Water
The plant needs at least six hours or more of sunlight in a day. If you are not able to provide that to your lavender, it’s not going to grow properly.
This is important when you are planting the lavender in an open space. You need to be particular that you plant the lavender in an area where light isn’t going to be a problem. If you have taller trees that might cover the light, make sure you prune them regularly.
Similarly, you should know that a lot of people overwater their lavender, and this is a major problem. It could also cause the plant to die a premature death. Ideally, you should provide very little water to your lavender.
Most people make the mistake of overwatering their lavender, and this can prevent it from growing. It also limits the blooms. It’s important that you only grow lavenders in well-drained soil as well.
Another common mistake that many people make when growing lavender is that they use sprinkler systems. The sprinkling water tends to remain on the leaves until it evaporates, which can cause sunburns.
This plant spends the better part of its day in the sun, so you have to make sure that you only water the soil. You should always water the roots and let the plant absorb the water through the soil.
Fertilize or Not?
This is a common question among many people who want to grow lavender. Thankfully, the answer is pretty simple: you don’t need to fertilize the lavender plant. It is incredibly hardy and is able to get all of the nutrients that it needs from the soil only.
Pruning
Finding the right time to prune the plants is also important. Pruning and deadheading are both essential steps that you will have to take to promote the growth of the plant.
The best time to prune the lavender plants is in the late fall. Do not prune them during the summer months or when they are blooming. In the late fall, the flowers will be fading already, which makes it the ideal time for you to prune the plant.
Fungus Problems
Fungus is a major problem that can have a dire impact on your plants. It is perhaps critically important that you take a close look at the growth of your plant and identify any fungi on the plant.
Fungi usually develop on plants such as the lavender when they are not cared for properly and overwatered. The excess water in the soil provides the perfect conditions for the growth of fungi.
If you do not pay attention to this, it won’t take long before your plant succumbs to root rot and other plants and eventually dies. Pests generally stay away from the lavender plant, although if the plant continues to get weak over time, even they will start flocking over to your plant.
If the plant succumbs to root rot, your only option will be to remove the plant and then cut off the affected roots.
If you have harvested the flowers, you will want to learn a thing or two about how to dry them. The best thing to do is gather a bunch of the stems and hang them upside down in a room.
Make sure that the blinds are drawn and the place is dark and well-ventilated. This is going to help preserve the color of the lavender while also preventing the stems from molding too much.
These are just a few things that you should know about growing the lavender in the best possible manner. As long as you follow these tips, your lavender plant will grow to its maximum height!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.
Before you go: Now is the perfect time to start tracking your gardening progress, and I created a garden journal to do exactly that. Click the image below to see it in action and to get your own copy.
