Growing Lavender: Fragrant Beauty for Your Garden

The Appeal of Lavender

Lavender brings fragrance, beauty, and pollinator appeal to any garden. Once established, it's remarkably drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. The key is providing the right conditions from the start.

Choosing Your Variety

• English lavender (L. angustifolia): Most cold-hardy, best fragrance for sachets
• French lavender (L. dentata): Distinctive toothed leaves, less cold-hardy
• Spanish lavender (L. stoechas): Unique "rabbit ear" bracts, needs good drainage
• Lavandin (L. x intermedia): Hybrid, more heat-tolerant, great for oil

Essential Growing Conditions

Lavender failures usually come from:

• Poor drainage: The #1 killer—lavender roots rot in wet soil
• Too much shade: Needs full sun (6+ hours)
• Rich soil: Prefers lean, slightly alkaline conditions
• Overcrowding: Needs good air circulation

Planting Tips

1. Amend heavy soil with gravel or sand for drainage
2. Add lime if soil is acidic
3. Plant slightly high to ensure drainage away from crown
4. Space 12-18 inches apart depending on variety
5. Mulch with gravel rather than organic mulch

Pruning for Longevity

Regular pruning keeps lavender compact and productive:

• After flowering, trim back by one-third
• Never cut into old, woody growth—it won't regrow
• In spring, shape lightly as new growth appears
• Replace plants that become woody and sparse (every 5-7 years)

Harvesting

For strongest fragrance, harvest when buds are colored but before fully open. Cut in morning after dew dries. Bundle stems and hang upside down in a dark, dry location to dry.