Lavender is an easy Mediterranean plant to maintain; its ideal conditions are dry heat with minimal humidity. To help ensure it thrives, read the following article.
Water
They require regular watering, but it is important not to overwater them. Overwatering can lead to root rot, as plants are sensitive to wet soil conditions that encourage mildew or other diseases. To avoid overwatering, wait until the top inch of soil has become completely dry before watering again; when watering directly onto the soil but not foliage will help prevent mold growth, while over-watering deprives plants of essential nutrients.
Lavender flourishes busing when grown in well-drained soil and it is wise to add builder’s sand when planting, as well as use a deep pot for drainage purposes. According to many lavender plant care guides – when it appears stressed, plants may lose color or begin wilting or drooping due to overwatering, nutritional deficiencies, or pest infestation. When this occurs, it is wise to take immediate steps such as extracting it from its pot and inspecting its roots and soil closely for signs of stress.
When transplanting lavender from its garden into a container, it is best to dig a hole that is twice the diameter of its roots and amend the soil with compost to help it adjust and prevent root-bound roots. Once warm weather arrives, plant the lavender outside in an area with ample light and space to grow.
Lavender should be regularly pruned in spring to foster its health and robust growth. Old, spindly growth should be reduced by about one-third to revitalize and promote flowering, as well as use this time for applying slow-release fertilizer around its base.
Fertilize
They thrive in low-nutrient soils and therefore do not require frequent feedings – too much fertilization could actually stunt their growth and produce too much foliage without enough flowers! To get optimal results from your lavender, add a handful of compost when planting it and apply shrub fertilizer during spring.
Lavender grows naturally on sunny Mediterranean slopes in soil that resembles rocks and gravel, in an environment with low water requirements and taking up only minimal amounts of nutrients through roots or its microbe population. According to this thread – organic growers use various soil amendments such as limestone, oyster shells, and gravel to improve drainage while applying manure from cow, sheep, or horse manures each fall, adding 8-10 tons per hectare as manures into the soil for healthy microbial population and slow release nutrients.
Lavender can thrive in USDA zones 5 to 8, though for maximum protection against harsh winters, it should have at least a thick layer of mulch to cushion its roots from damage when temperatures dip below freezing. Even where snow cover may not be an option, a layer of straw or leafy mulch could help safeguard its vital roots and minimize any possible freeze damage when temperatures fall.
Mulch
Lavender thrives when placed in full sunlight and soil that drains well, particularly over winter. Soil that remains wet throughout summer causes leaves to rot, encouraging fungal diseases. To promote healthy growth and flower production, mulching with pea gravel or compost helps conserve moisture while decreasing weeds. Although lavender is considered a drought tolerant perennial plant, its root system needs to be watered periodically throughout its first season for maximum root development.
If you live in a cold climate, mulching them after the ground freezes in late fall will protect their roots from frost and harsh winter winds. Just be sure to keep the mulch at least three inches from the base of each plant – too close could lead to root rot or even suffocation of roots!
Lavender can be propagated from cuttings, but this requires patience as the plants take many years to mature enough for blooming. To create a lavender plant from stem cuttings, remove three or four lower leaves from each cut end, dip it in rooting hormone, then set into warm (source: https://www.wikihow.life/Grow-Lavender-from-Cuttings) – then, moist potting soil for 30-40 days until roots have developed on it and the shoots have become longer than its parent plant.
Pruning
They can quickly become unruly without proper pruning, but employing the appropriate technique makes all the difference. Pruned plants become more compact, have fuller shapes, produce more flowers, resist reverting into a vegetative state, and are less prone to fungal disease.
Establishing your plants properly during their first two years is of utmost importance for their success. If they grow too large, their attractive mounded form will disappear, turning instead into woody stems with wooden cores.
Once your plants are established, light pruning should be performed after every flowering period to maintain their aesthetic appeal. Pruning during the blooming season prevents seeds from being produced while redirecting their energy towards new growth instead. Deadheading faded flower spikes are also essential to promote continued blooming; deadheading faded spikes should be cut just above their first set of leaves for continuous blooming.
Conclusion
You can include lavenders for your home garden now that you know how to grow and take care of them. This is a beautiful addition to your landscape.
