Lavender is one of the most beloved plants for gardeners, known for its calming scent, beautiful purple flowers, and versatile uses. Whether you’re growing it for its fragrance, its culinary applications, or simply to create a stunning garden display, cultivating lavender can be incredibly rewarding. However, growing an abundant amount of lavender, especially in your own backyard, requires the right approach. Fortunately, growing lavender like a pro is easier than you might think, and with some expert advice, you’ll be harvesting amazing amounts of this fragrant herb in no time!
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps and tips for growing lavender successfully and ensuring that you have a constant, bountiful supply of this beautiful plant. From preparing the soil to pruning and harvesting, you’ll learn everything you need to know about growing lavender like an expert.
Why Grow Lavender?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of lavender cultivation, let’s explore some of the reasons why growing lavender is worth the effort:
- Fragrance: Lavender’s signature scent is a natural stress reliever and can transform your garden or home into a serene, calming space.
- Low Maintenance: Lavender is a hardy plant that thrives with minimal attention once established, making it perfect for both beginner and seasoned gardeners.
- Multiple Uses: Lavender isn’t just for looks! You can use its flowers in cooking, make soothing essential oils, create homemade sachets, or even brew lavender tea.
- Attracts Pollinators: Lavender’s beautiful flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, helping to maintain a healthy ecosystem in your garden.
- Long Blooming Period: Lavender blooms from late spring to early summer, offering months of beauty and fragrance.
Now, let’s look at how you can grow lavender like a pro!
1. Choosing the Right Lavender Variety
The first step in growing lavender like a pro is selecting the right variety. There are many different species of lavender, each with its own unique characteristics. Some of the most popular varieties include:
- English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): Known for its classic purple flowers and sweet fragrance. This variety is perfect for colder climates and can thrive in USDA hardiness zones 5-9.
- French Lavender (Lavandula dentata): This variety has slightly smaller flowers but a stronger, more aromatic scent. It’s best suited to warmer climates (USDA hardiness zones 8-10).
- Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas): Known for its unique flower shape and vibrant purple color. It’s great for attracting pollinators and is suited for USDA hardiness zones 7-9.
- Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia): A hybrid between English and Portuguese lavenders, lavandin is larger, more resilient, and often used for essential oil production.
For the purpose of growing “insane amounts” of lavender, English Lavender and Lavandin varieties are the best choices due to their high yield and resilience. Choose a variety that suits your local climate and gardening needs.
2. Preparing the Soil for Lavender
Lavender thrives in well-drained, slightly alkaline soil. To grow lavender in large quantities, it’s essential to ensure that your soil conditions are ideal.
- Soil pH: Lavender prefers a slightly alkaline pH between 6.5 and 7.5. If your soil is acidic, add some garden lime to raise the pH.
- Well-Drained Soil: Lavender doesn’t like wet feet. Poorly drained soil can lead to root rot, which will damage or kill your plants. To improve drainage, you can mix in sand or gravel into your garden bed or plant lavender in raised beds or containers.
- Soil Fertility: Lavender doesn’t need overly rich soil. In fact, overly fertile soil can lead to weak, leggy growth. Amend the soil with organic matter, such as compost, in small amounts to improve structure without over-fertilizing.
3. Choosing the Right Location
Lavender requires full sun to grow to its fullest potential. When planning your lavender garden, choose a spot that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Lavender thrives in hot, sunny climates, and it’s essential to ensure that your plants get plenty of sun to produce those beautiful purple blooms.
In addition to sunlight, lavender needs good airflow to prevent mildew and fungal diseases. Avoid planting lavender in areas that are too crowded or prone to high humidity. Proper spacing between plants is key to promoting airflow and ensuring that each plant has room to grow.
4. Planting Lavender
Once you’ve chosen your lavender variety, prepared the soil, and selected the perfect location, it’s time to plant your lavender. Here’s how to do it:
- Planting from Seeds: While growing lavender from seeds can be a rewarding challenge, it requires patience, as lavender seeds can take up to 3-4 weeks to germinate. Start seeds indoors in seed trays about 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost. Once the seedlings are strong enough, harden them off and transplant them into the garden.
- Planting from Cuttings: For quicker results, you can propagate lavender by taking softwood cuttings in the spring. Cut 4-6 inches from a healthy lavender plant, remove the lower leaves, and dip the cut end into rooting hormone. Plant the cutting in well-drained soil and keep it moist until it roots.
- Planting from Nursery Plants: The fastest and easiest way to start a lavender garden is by purchasing young plants from a nursery. When planting, dig a hole that is about the same size as the plant’s root ball, and space plants 12-18 inches apart. This allows the lavender plants to grow without overcrowding.
5. Watering Lavender
Lavender is a drought-tolerant plant once established, so it’s important not to overwater. In fact, overwatering is one of the most common mistakes made by lavender growers. Here’s how to water your lavender properly:
- Watering Frequency: Water lavender deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. For new plants, water more frequently until they are established, but once established, you can water every 2-3 weeks, depending on rainfall.
- Watering Method: Water at the base of the plant, avoiding wetting the leaves or flowers. This helps prevent fungal diseases and mildew.
6. Pruning Lavender
Pruning is crucial for promoting healthy growth and ensuring that your lavender plants continue to thrive for years to come. Pruning also helps encourage bushier plants and more prolific blooming.
- Prune After Blooming: After your lavender plants have finished blooming, cut back the spent flower stalks to just above the first set of leaves. This prevents the plant from wasting energy on seed production and encourages more flowers the following season.
- Annual Pruning: In early spring, before new growth begins, trim the plant by about one-third of its size. Be sure not to cut into the woody part of the plant, as this can damage it. Regular pruning helps maintain a compact shape and ensures that your lavender plant remains productive.
7. Harvesting Lavender
Lavender flowers are typically ready to harvest when they are in full bloom but before the buds begin to dry out. Harvesting at this time ensures that you get the most potent fragrance and oils from your lavender.
- Cutting Flowers: Use sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut the flower stalks. Be sure to leave enough foliage so that the plant can continue to thrive.
- Drying Lavender: Bundle the lavender stems together and hang them upside down in a dry, dark, and well-ventilated area. Allow the flowers to dry completely before removing the buds from the stems.
- Storage: Store dried lavender in airtight containers to preserve its fragrance. You can use it for homemade sachets, essential oils, or dried floral arrangements.
8. Dealing with Common Lavender Problems
Although lavender is a hardy plant, it’s still susceptible to a few issues. Keep an eye out for these common problems:
- Root Rot: Often caused by overwatering or poor drainage, root rot is a common issue for lavender. Make sure the soil is well-drained and only water when the soil is dry.
- Lavender Aphids: Aphids can infest lavender, causing distorted growth. If you notice aphids, spray the plant with a gentle solution of insecticidal soap or neem oil.
- Powdery Mildew: Poor airflow or high humidity can lead to powdery mildew. Ensure your plants have adequate space and are not crowded.
9. Growing Lavender in Containers
If you don’t have a large garden space, you can grow lavender in containers. Choose a pot with good drainage, and use a well-draining potting mix designed for Mediterranean herbs. Container-grown lavender needs extra attention to ensure it doesn’t dry out or get waterlogged, so be sure to monitor its watering needs closely.
Conclusion
Growing an insane amount of lavender like a pro doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right variety, location, and care, you can create a bountiful lavender garden that will reward you with beautiful flowers, soothing scents, and an endless supply of lavender for years to come. Whether you’re using it for culinary purposes, essential oils, or simply to create a stunning garden display, lavender is a versatile and easy-to-grow plant that will bring joy to your home. Start cultivating your own lavender garden today and enjoy the many benefits of this amazing plant!