How to Grow Sweet Lavender

There are over 30 species of lovely lavenders included in the Lavandula genus. They are all fragrant and attractive, and are usually perennial, herbaceous plants, shrubs and subshrubs. They usually grow no taller than three feet. Native to the Mediterranean area and south to Africa and India, lavender is easy to grow in many different climates. It is widely cultivated, especially in France, for its essential oil and other products made from the flowers and foliage.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lavender plant(s)
• Warm, non-windy area with light soil in a dry, open, sunny location or a decorative nursery pot, at least one gallon in size
• Shovel
• Compost
• Potting soil (for planting in pots)
• Water

1. Select healthy looking lavender plant(s) at your nursery. Make sure they are not too small.

2. Choose a spot in your garden that gets direct sun at least six hours each day. A few cloudy days now and then won't hurt its ability to do well and to flower.

3. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball of your young lavender plant(s). Add compost to the hole.

4. Place the lavender plant into the hole, then tap the soil down around its base so it sits securely.

5. Water your new planting well, and keep it moist until new growth begins to appear. After that, this plant is very adaptable to dry spells.

Tips & Warnings

• Soil that is too rich or full of nutrients is not suitable for lavender.
• Plant lavender in a spot where water does not form ponds in the winter, and protect it from frost, although lavender can come back from the root system in the spring if the ground in your area does not freeze hard.
• Dried lavender flowers are favorites in flower arrangements, sachets and potpourris. To dry lavender flower spikes, tie them in small bundles and hang them in a dark, well-ventilated place until they are dry to the touch. You can then make small fabric pouches, stuff them with flowers, and store them in drawers to keep your clothes smelling fresh and to deter moths.
• Lavender is also edible and is sometimes one of the spices used in the herbes de Provence blend, which also contains rosemary, marjoram, basil, bay leaf and thyme.
• Lavender is susceptible to some insect pests, especially small caterpillars and similar pests that feed on the leaves. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a naturally occurring soil bacteria that you spray on lavender and other plants and can help with a caterpillar infestation.