The Ultimate Guide to Growing Lavender

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Lavender is probably one of the most recognisable herbs that people don’t realise is a herb!  Those pretty purple spike flowers are a common sight in gardens around the world but not everyone realises what they are.  

Not only is lavender popular as a plant but it has tons of uses.  From making essential oils to teas and even adding to recipes, it is a true herb.  So here’s my ultimate guide to growing lavender to help you start – but don’t worry, it is a super easy one to grow!

Lavender varieties

Before we dive into how to grow lavender, let’s take a moment to get to know it a little better – specifically those lavender varieties.

There are loads of different types of lavender and also different colours – pink and white are two examples.  But there are a few varieties that you are most likely to run into when starting to grow them.

English lavender and hybrids

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a group of plants that can be left outside in the winter as long as they are in free-draining soli.  They are tougher and work well in borders or containers.  They vary in colour and in size from 30cm (1ft) to 90cm (3ft) in height.

French and tender lavenders

This group includes French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Spanish lavender (L. latifolia, L. pedunculata and L. viridis) and tender lavenders including those from Portugal and the Canary Islands.

Because they are from warmer climates, they tend to be less hardy and also short-lived.  They are best in containers and will need to be overwintered in a greenhouse or somewhere frost-free.  They come in a variety of colours, often softer shades and can grow to around 60cm (2ft) tall.

Growing lavender indoors

If you want to enjoy the scent of lavender up close, one idea is to grow it indoors.  With a little care, there’s no reason why you can’t grow it somewhere like a kitchen windowsill, especially harder varieties.

Aim to put the pot somewhere that gets 3-4 hours of direct sunlight.  Turn it regularly so the plant grows evenly, rather than straining for the sunlight.  Aim for good circulation but keep it out of the drafts.

Give the plant a good watering then allow the soil to become slightly dry before watering again.  Too much water can cause the plants to rot so watch that the soil isn’t too wet or there are no yellowing leaves.

Use an all-purpose water-soluble fertilizer at half strength every 4 weeks during spring and summer to promote healthy growth.  Repot once a year in early spring.

Growing lavender from seed

There are two ways to get lavender plants to plant in your garden. One by purchasing from a nursery or plant store and another one is by raising lavender plants from seeds or cuttings. The first way gives you faster results, but the cost-effective way is to grow from seeds. By raising seedlings, you have multiple plants to plant in your garden. 

To grow seedlings, fill the seed tray with a potting mix, insert seeds in each slot, and water them. Within two weeks, you will have lavender seedlings. These need to be grown in separate pots until they grow to a size when you can transport them into the ground or bigger pots.

Growing lavender from cuttings

The success rate of growing Lavender plants from cuttings is low because dividing and transplanting do not yield similar growth as seedlings. 

To propagate, create lavender cuttings in the early summer of roughly 6 inches long, dip them in root hormone powder after removing all the bottom leaves and place it in a rooting mix. Keep the cuttings in a shady location until new leaves show up.

How to grow lavender from small plants outdoors

Perhaps the easiest way to get a good crop of lavender is to grow from small plants.  These are easy to obtain at nurseries or garden centres.

To grow small plants outdoors:

1. Pick plants whose roots are developed and are healthy to start with growing.
2. Dig a hole deep enough to hold the root ball. In terms of width, it should roughly be twice the width of the root ball. If you are planting in a container, add sand and gravel to the soil.
3. After taking the plant off the parent pot or nursery holder, if the roots are embedded on the sides, unwind them slightly to encourage outward growth.  
4. Place the root ball into the hole. Make sure the top of the root ball is at a level of the soil line. Fill the hole with soil add soil if necessary to fully cover the hole thoroughly.
5. Firmly press the soil around the stem and water adequately.
6. Next, water the lavender when the soil gets dry.

Watering

Water young plants once every four days, and as they grow into bigger plants, sparsely water them. Overwatering kills lavender plants, and it is a common mistake that beginner growers make.  

Fertilizing

Just like watering, you don’t have to fertilize Lavender plants a lot. Feed a regular nitrogen-based fertilizer in the springtime.

Trimming and Pruning

After the flowering season is complete, to stimulate the plant for the next flowering season, you have to cut off the dead and dried flower stalks. 

Also, plants that are older than two years perform well when you prune their woody and dead parts. They produce more foliage and fragrant flowers.

If the plant is looking a bit leggy and there aren’t many flowers, prune in mid-August to just above a green shoot.  Give it a month and if it doesn’t bounce back, it may be worth getting another plant.

Lavender companion plants

Lavender is so particular in its growing requirements, that if you place it next to a plant that prefers more attention (such as roses or tulips), one of them will suffer. The best way to grow lavender and care for the appearance of your garden at the same time? Plant different varieties far away from each other! Lavenders thrive with full sun, little water and fertilizers.

Some good plants to grow with lavender that share similar needs are:

• Echinacea
• Aster
• Sedum
• Wild indigo
• Baby’s breath
• Drought tolerant roses

Lavender plants are extremely resilient and should be taken care of with minimal attention. Gazania is also a beautiful flowering plant that can do well in dry environments, but will suffer if you give it too much love.

These plants, in addition to being good companions for lavender due to their growing habits, all produce flowers that pair strikingly with its purple blossoms. Some planting companions for lavender benefit greatly from having it nearby because of the plant’s excellent repelling abilities against moths and slugs as well as deer. It is a natural moth-repellent so any other plants that suffer from them will be benefited by a close proximity between these two relatives

Lavender companion vegetables

As we all know, fruit trees are very susceptible to pests. Moths in particular can wreak havoc on an orchard and destroy a crop of peaches before the harvest is ready for picking. However, there is one plant that has been known to ward off insects: lavender!

Not only does it help keep moths away from your precious peach tree but its antioxidant properties also protect other plants like cabbage and broccoli against slugs who love nothing more than feasting on those tasty vegetables when their leaves get wet by raindrops- which often happens as you already know during harvesting season!

It’s always best not worry about how much space you need because anywhere around celery, Brussels sprouts or cauliflower would be perfect if you’re looking for

When and how to harvest

Because you will mostly be using the flowers for different purposes, you can harvest them when they are fully open.  Try not to cut too many from the plant at a time so if you think you need a larger quantity, plant a number of plants to start with.

How to harvest lavender seeds

One of the best ways to be sure you have lavender plants next year is to collect some seeds.  It is easy to harvest lavender seeds as the season comes to an end.

When the flowers look like they are dying off, don’t prune them – this is the process of the seeds being created.

Once the flowers have turned to seed pods and all the colour is gone, cut the flowers.  Put them somewhere safe to finish drying then collect the seeds.

You can store them until spring and then you are ready to start the sowing process again.

Problems when growing lavender

Lavender is ideal for beginner gardeners because there’s not too much to do with it, especially in the first year.  But there are a couple of potential problems to watch for:

• Soil is too wet or heavy – this can lead to root rot and the death of the plant so if your soil is very heavy or doesn’t dry out, use containers instead
• The plant isn’t hardy – make sure the variety you choose is suitable for your climate and plans
• Watch out for pests – the three main ones are rosemary beetle, sage and Ligurian leafhopper and cuckoo spit from spittlebugs

Why are my lavender leaves yellowing?

Lavender plants can become tatty, usually in autumn. Yellow leaves could be an issue of excess moisture. Take a look at the soil around your plant or if it’s pot-bound maybe check if you’re not over watering them–these plants thrive on almost neglect! When flowers have faded there is no need to water excessively and mix some grit into their heavy soil with regular care for healthy growth habits year round

Growing Lavender FAQs

Things to do with lavender

From creating essential oil to adding it to cookies, there are tons of things to do with lavender. And that’s aside from just enjoying the scent and look of the flowers! Here’s a simple idea for lavender tea to get you started.

Yield: 1 cup

Easy Lavender Tea

Print

Make use of your fresh lavender flowers to create this simple herbal tea

Additional Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• Water
• Fresh lavender buds
• Tea balls or sachets
• Honey (optional but tasty)

Instructions

1. Boil 8 ounces of water
2. Add four teaspoons of lavender flowers and 1 tea sachet or bag
3. Leave to steep for 15 minutes then serve

Notes

If the tea is a little cool when you come to serve, top up with a little hot water.

You can also sweeten it with some honey.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 148Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 20mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g