Lavender in Your Yard

• Starting Lavender: Plant shallow and water in thoroughly, top of potting soil should be level with the ground. Try several different varieties to see which is best for your area.

• Soil: Soil should be well worked with a Ph of 6.4 - 8.3. Limestone soil works great.

• Drainage: Needs excellent drainage (no wet feet), use raised beds or plant on a gentle slope.

• Spacing / Circulation: Space plants 100% of the plants mature size apart (i.e., plant reaches 3 ft./ space 3 ft. apart), fully grown branches should barely touch. After winter, remove dead leaves from the base of plants to promote air movement.

• Sun: Needs full sun, a minimum of 6+ hours a day. It can grow in up to 50% filtered light, but the bloom will be limited.

• Water: Always water around the base of the plant (not through the leaves).Water regularly for the first year, especially during the summer heat (twice a week to every other day, depending on weather). Once established, you can reduce watering to once a month. Plant away from sprinkler systems that water regularly. No Wet Feet!

• Humidity: Good air circulation and proper drainage increase your chances of success. Damp, still air makes the plant more susceptible to root rot and more.

• Pruning Lavender: Pruning in late fall to early winter (October - January) promotes new growth and blooming the next season. Cut approximately 1 - 2 inches of green foliage/leaves off the plant to give it a domed/rounded shape. ** 1st season, prune off all blooms, the plant’s energy should be directed to growing roots, not flowers.**

• Harvesting Lavender:  In Texas,  lavender normally blooms mid-May to early July. For a fresh bouquet, pick the blossoms when half of the flowers on the spike have opened. To dry the bundle for crafting or sachet, pick when three-quarters of the blossoms are open.

Lavender in Containers

• Container: Pots should be made of a breathable material (i.e., terra-cotta, pottery, wood), and may need to increase in size as the plant grows. The root ball is the approximate size or slightly larger than the visible plant.

• Drainage: Adequate drainage in the container is important. Make sure that your pot has an hole or holes in the bottom. For higher humidity areas, you may need to place some rocks or an inch or two of gravel in the bottom for additional drainage.

• Soil: Needs a light, “fluffy,” well aerated mixture, not too heavy, to allow for good drainage. We use a 50/50 mixture of potting soil and cactus or succulent soil.

• Water: Like any plant in a container, you will need to pay more attention to watering them as they can quickly dry out. Remember, lavender does not like to be excessively wet or totally dehydrated. (We water every 3’ish days for our potted lavender, depending on mother nature.)

• Fertilizer: Potted lavender can deplete soil nutrition more quickly than plants in the garden and needs to be fertilized several times a year. Time released pellets may also be used.

• Pruning: Potted lavender also benefits from a light pruning every fall/winter. Take off 1-2 inches off the overall ball shape of the plan. ** 1st season, prune off all blooms, the plant’s energy should be directed to growing roots, not flowers.**

• Location: For best results, containers should be placed where they receive a full day’s sun. If you cannot water them as often as needed, you may reduce sun to 6-8 hours a day.

*Information above is intended as a general guideline for growing lavender in Central Texas,  actual success may vary, no guarantees are expressed or implied.