How to Plant Lavender in Your Garden

Late spring through early summer is the ideal time to plant lavender in the garden.  In full sun and well-draining soil, lavender is an easy perennial, flowering herb to cultivate.  Its benefits in the garden are numerous — beautiful color, sweet fragrance, low water consumption and it attracts bees and butterflies!

If you have picked up a few plants from your local nursery (or plan to!), but have not yet broken ground to plant them, we've put together some tips for keeping your precious lavender starts healthy in the interim.

How to Plant Lavender in the Garden

 

Decide where to plant your lavender

Location, location, location!  Lavender needs good drainage and full sun to thrive. 

It does especially well when planted near heat-reflecting materials, such as against rock walls or on top of light colored gravel, etc.  Lavender likes to have at least eight hours of sun daily during the flowering season (spring and summer).  Is there a spot in your garden that fits this description? 

How much drainage does this location have?  Sloped gardens, terraces, raised beds or rockeries all usually have good drainage.  If your garden doesn't naturally have variable topography, you can always create it.  A berm or mound of soil 6 - 8 inches high will be high enough to allow excess water to drain away from the plant.

What's your soil like?

The composition of your soil also effects drainage.  If you are planting in heavy or poorly draining soil, dig a hole much larger than the pot size and fill with soil amended with gravel or coarse sand. Make sure water drains readily from the hole before planting.  To test the drainage before planting, fill the hole half-way with water.  The water should drain from the hole within a couple of minutes.  If it takes longer than this, add additional amending material to the soil and test it again.

Lavender likes soil at neutral pH or slightly alkaline.  If soils are acidic as is commonly the case here on San Juan Island where our farm is located, they will need amendment — calcitic lime works particularly well in this regard.  At-home soil testing kits are inexpensive, easy to use and available at most local hardware stores.  Soil tests can also be done with simple supplies found in the kitchen.

Planting

Now that your garden location and soil are ready, let's plant!  Dig a hole slightly wider than the pot containing your lavender plant.  Keep the depth of the hole no deeper than the pot so that the base of the lavender plant is just slightly above the soil level.

To release the lavender from it's pot, gently squeeze the pot to loosen it from the sides.  Grip the base of the plant securely as you carefully draw it from the pot.

With your fingers, gently loosen the base of the root ball and soil as you lower the plant into the hole.  Fill in the hole around the root ball and firmly press the soil around the plant.  Avoid creating a depression or well around the plant.  Remember, you want the surface water to readily drain away from your lavender.

Your freshly planted lavender will need a good watering at this point to help it get established.  Thoroughly soak the soil around the plant.  During it's first flowering season, the plant will likely need more water than it will as it matures.  A general rule of thumb is "water every three days" — either from rain or your watering can.  Slightly drooping flowerheads are also a sign of needing water.

Be sure to avoid getting too much moisture on the leaves.  Lavender needs water, but doesn't like to be soggy.  Watering in the morning allows for time and the day's heat to dry out the soil.

Most lavender varieties take about 3 years to reach their full, mature size.  You can keep them this size with annual pruning.  In general, well-kept plants can live up to 15 - 20 years.

Lavender can be grown in pots with a little extra attention and care, but it is best as an outside plant.  For potted lavender tips, download our complete lavender growing tips.  And, if you have specific questions, post them in the comments below.  We love talking about growing lavender!  Happy planting!