Turn Your Garden Into A Center Of Calm With Our Lavender Grow Guide

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If you had to choose just one herb to plant in your garden, you could do a lot worse than lavender. These beautiful, fragrant and tasty plants are able to satisfy almost all the needs of any gardener.

It is beautiful with very bright purple flowers. It smells amazing, with a subtle aroma that lends a distinctive touch to bouquets and baked goods. And it has dozens of uses everywhere from laundry to kitchens to spas.

Some people even use it as an insect repellent and disinfectant!

It has many uses, as research has shown that lavender contains beneficial phytochemicals (also known as plant chemicals) such as linalool, which have antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.

Other studies have shown that the scent of lavender can uplift people and animals.

What's more, lavender is native to the Mediterranean and isn't difficult to grow, but you need to choose the right type of lavender plant for your USDA hardiness zone (find yours here) and create the right conditions for it.

There are different types of lavender, so pay attention to the botanical name.

Lavender usually blooms from late spring to mid-summer, depending on the species, it also feels good in flower beds with other herbs, in rock gardens, as a low curb for footpaths. You can even grow them in landscaped beds and pots. It's also impressive when done in bulk!

Of course, pollinators love lavender, and better yet, deer and rabbits tend to leave it alone because of its semi-soft leaves and strong scent, which they dislike.

Here's everything you need to know about planting and growing lavender:

What Varieties of Lavender Grow?

Most lavender grows in dense stands. Some of them are less than a foot tall, while others are several feet. Fortunately, many new cultivars or cultivars with greater tolerance to harsh conditions have emerged in recent years.

Different lavenders are grown for different purposes. Some are grown for food, others for viewing. Others are grown for use in soap or perfume. Because of the large number of species, you should read the label or description of the plant to know what you are buying. So you can choose the lavender that will give you the yield you need and will grow best in your climate:

Spanish lavender ( Lavendula stoechas ) has beautiful tufted flowers and grows best in warm, humid climates; grown mainly for its showy flowers; confusingly, sometimes called French lavender or butterfly lavender; USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10

French lavender ( Lavendula dentata ) is harder to find; It also has tassels on the top, but has more of a rosemary flavor and is therefore used for sachets. This type of lavender is usually grown as an annual, although it can also survive as an annual in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 9.

How to grow lavender?

Find a location in direct sunlight, which is defined as 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. Lavender does not do well in the shade.

According to University of Michigan experts, lavender grows well in sandy and loamy conditions. But heavy clay soil that does not allow water to pass through holds too much water. Therefore, before planting, you should dig up the area and add compost to improve the texture of the soil. You can also save work and plant the plant in a pot.

When planting lavender, dig a hole about twice the size of the root ball, then place the plant at the same height as in the container. Cover the soil and compact it. Be sure to leave plenty of space between the lavender plants, as they don't like to be crowded.

Water the plant well after planting and occasionally during the first season to encourage root development. However, it is better not to mulch. Lavender likes a dry environment, and mulch keeps the roots from getting too wet.

Also, don't worry about fertilizing, which can actually lead to poor growth prone to winter dieback.

Can you grow lavender from seeds?

Lavender can be grown from seed, but you need patience: the plant can take several years to mature and flower. If you want to enjoy flowers faster, you should buy lavender plants.

Should I cut the lavender?

In spring, cut back to new green, not to the woody parts of the plant. Jonathan Foster of the University of Maine points out that you can kill your lavender plants if you prune too aggressively. In the spring, new growth can develop slowly, so be patient!

What can be done with lavender?

If you like, pick the flowers when a few buds open on each stem. Tie the stems together and hang upside down in the light. Or just put it in a vase. Once the lavender is completely dry, peel the stems to release the flowers and store them in small jars with lids for use in cooking, in bags and in baths.

Looking for more ideas? Here are 30 great ways to use lavender!

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