Tips on Caring for Lavender Plants

Lavender is one of the prettiest and most versatile perennials you can grow. Because of its many uses around the home and garden, it’s an excellent investment.

You can either grow lavender from seed or you can purchase lavender plants in containers from your local garden nursery.

Luckily, lavender isn’t a fussy plant and it’s not difficult to grow. In fact, it’s one of the easiest perennials to keep alive, as long as you understand it’s moisture and pruning needs – the two most important factors when growing lavender.

Once you get a few things down, this perennial can come back for several consecutive years. So let’s jump in!

Lavender Varieties

There are two main categories of lavender: English and French (also called Spanish Lavender).

They differ slightly in appearance but are still easy to tell apart because of their unique flower blooms. The blooms on French lavender are more open and fluffy whereas the blooms on English Lavender stay tight and compact and are usually a much deeper shade of purple.

French Lavender, which thrives in plant hardiness zones of 7-9.

All varieties share the same basic needs. Just know that English lavender is more forgiving when it comes to pruning mistakes.

It’s also far more fragrant, so if that’s why you want to grow lavender than opt for an English variety.

Whichever variety you choose, make sure to keep these top care tips in mind:

• make sure the plant has plenty of access to sunlight
• if planting in a pot, make sure the pot has a drainage hole so the root system stays healthy
• deadhead spent flower blooms but don’t cut below two or three inches ABOVE the woody stem. You need the woody stem for regrowth
• regular potting soil is fine for planting

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How to Water Lavender Plants

I have found that my lavender plants love moisture, especially in late spring and during summer. The temps get so high that the soil dries out quickly and then the blooms and foliage begin to wilt.

I’ve noticed my potted lavender plants, even though they do get some shade in the afternoon, do best when I water every few days instead of just once a week.

So my advice is to pay attention to your lavender plants. If they look wilted, this is your sign to start watering more frequently. Water deeply and then keep a close eye on them to see how they perform.

I hope this post helped you understand the basics of lavender care. For more tips on how to grow lavender from seed and how to prune lavender, head to this lavender post that covers everything you need to know to keep this perennial looking its best!