Lavender is an easy Mediterranean plant to grow if you offer it full sun and good drainage. If the soil isn't sandy enough, you can grow it in pots instead of a seedbed. Its fragrant purple flowers enhance the beauty of any garden and the harvested lavender can be used in crafts, perfume and baked goods.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparation for Planting Lavender
Step 1. Choose a good plant
It is a good idea to choose one sold by a local nursery, as they will provide varieties that are good for the climate in your area. There are many species of lavender, each with slightly different needs, so if you order a plant online you risk buying one that is not suitable for your area.
If your local nursery doesn't sell lavender, do a little research online to find out which varieties grow well in your area. The most important factor will be the climate. If you live in a cold or very humid place, you will need to choose a more resistant species such as lavender angustifolia (also called English lavender) or hidcote. If you live in a place with very mild winters and hot, dry summers, you will have more options at your disposal
Step 2. Choose a sunny area of your garden
Lavender is native to the Mediterranean countries. To help her thrive in the garden, you need to recreate a warm, dry, coastal environment. Choose the sunniest spot in your garden for lavender, as it needs at least eight hours of sunshine a day to grow healthy.
Look for a sheltered, but not shady spot. Lavender can fly away in strong winds, so it's a good idea to plant it close to a wall or other plants that don't stand out too high, but are large enough to block the wind
Step 3. Check the soil drainage
Lavender will not grow well in moist or soggy soil. It needs dry and sandy soil, which drains very quickly, so that the roots do not rot. Check soil drainage by digging a hole and filling it with water. If the water drains quickly, the soil should be fine. If it emerges from the hole and flows slowly, you need to change the terrain or find another place.
- You can improve the drainage of the soil by tilling it to a depth of about 15 centimeters and mixing a little building sand. This helps mimic the natural sandy conditions lavender plants thrive in.
- You can also decide to grow lavender in a pot or in a raised bed, which allows you to more carefully control the properties of the soil and adapt them to the needs of the plant.
Step 4. Check the pH level of the soil
Purchase a soil pH tester at a nursery or garden store to check if the soil is alkaline enough for lavender. The ideal pH for this plant is between 6, 5 and 7, 5. You may need to add lime to the soil to increase its alkalinity.
- Just a little bit is enough. Add only 1, 5 or 2 grams per cubic meter of soil.
- If you are using soil, check the label and purchase one with the correct pH.
Part 2 of 3: Plant the Lavender
Step 1. Dig a hole large enough for the roots
This plant appreciates slightly enclosed spaces, so dig a hole sized to hold the roots, but no larger. If you are planting lavender in a pot, use one that is not much larger than the roots. If you are planting more than one plant, space the holes between them by 30 to 60 cm, since the shrubs grow quite large.
Step 2. Put some fertilizer in the hole
Sprinkle about half a cup of composted manure or bone meal into the hole to fertilize the lavender. This will help her start growing well. Mix with the soil at the bottom of the hole, then cover with a light layer of soil.
If you are worried about drainage, you can also mix in a handful of pebbles, so that the water drains more easily
Step 3. Prepare the lavender plant
Prune any dead or decaying parts to achieve good air circulation and to ensure that the plant's energy is directed towards healthy new growth. Shake off any excess soil from the roots and remove any that are torn or damaged.
Step 4. Place the plant in the hole
Place the lavender in the hole so that the roots are nested in contact with the bottom and sides. They must not be in direct contact with the composted material; rather, make sure there is a layer of soil on top of the compost before inserting the lavender. Fill the hole with soil and fix it with light strokes around the roots.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for Lavender
Step 1. Water the lavender abundantly, but infrequently
Wait until the soil is dry before watering it. When you do, take a few minutes to make sure the roots get completely wet. If you live in an area where it rains often during the summer, avoid watering when the soil is wet.
Step 2. Fertilize the lavender in the spring
This plant does not need to be fertilized more than once a year. In early spring, mix some bone meal with compost on the surface of the soil around the lavender, then water thoroughly. Overfertilizing lavender will cause the plant to grow poorly, rather than having the effect you want.
Step 3. Prune the lavender
Over the course of the year, check if the plant has dead or dying shoots and remove them immediately with a sterilized pair of scissors. Prune the entire plant by in early spring, before new growth begins, to adjust its shape.
Pruning promotes the emergence of new healthy growth. The lavender shrub will grow larger and thicker over time, producing more flowers each season. Season 1 might produce no more than a deck or two. Within three years, you should have several decks per season
Step 4. Collect the flowers
When the lavender flowers have just begun to open, usually in early summer, collect the lavender in a bunch (a handful of stems) and cut the stems. The plant will make another bloom before the end of the growing season.
- When harvesting flowers, avoid cutting into the woody part where the buds sprout. This damages the plant.
- The stems can be stored in a jar filled with fresh water. They keep their color well even when dry. To dry the lavender, tie a bunch with a rubber band and hang it upside down in a dark, dry place for about a week.
- Lavender flowers can be used in the preparation of sweets and savory recipes, for crafts or to make essential oil.
