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How to Grow and Dry Lavender

lavender
Lavender (lavandula sp.) is a delightful perennial herb known for its ability to promote relaxation and restful sleep. But, it is also beautiful in the garden and attracts bees and butterflies. Growing and drying your own lavender will provide you with delightful cut flowers in the summer and dried lavender for crafts or sachets that will provide fragrance all winter.
lavender bundle

Is Lavender Winter Hardy in Maine?

Lavandula includes over 40 species of plants that range from pink or white to traditional blue and purple. Most are cold hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 8, but there are several varieties that are hardy to zone 3.
According to the University of Minnesota Extension the following varieties of lavender are cold hardy to zone 4. 

​
  1. ‘Imperial Gem’
  2. ‘Royal Velvet’ 
  3. ‘Munstead’ 
  4. ‘SuperBlue’ 
  5. ‘Jean Davis’ 
  6. ‘Niko’/Phenomenal 
  7. ‘Sharon Roberts’.

Some sources list Munstead and Phenomenal as hardy to zone 3, but it is risky.

How to Grow Lavender

Lavender seedlings
Growing lavender in your home garden is relatively easy. This hardy herb returns each year in larger clumps, but from my experience, it does take a few years to become established.

​My lavender began several years ago with one small nursery plant. It endured a move to a new home, but just now produced an abundance of blooms.

​ I would recommend beginning your lavender garden with several nursery grown seedlings.

Where should you plant lavender?

lavender and roses
Lavender can be grown in pots and containers or planted in the soil in the perennial bed. It can be used to line walkways, fill in between perennials or to brighten rock gardens.

Consider planting lavender near roses for a romantic display of soft color.



Butterfly on Lavender
Lavender attracts bees and butterflies.

How much sunlight does lavender need?

Choose a location that receives full sun for at least 6 to 8 hours a day. The New England Gardener's Guide recommends planting lavender on a south facing slope in sandy soil.  Adjust the pH to 6.0 or above, as lavender does not grow well in acidic soil.

What kind of soil does lavender need?

Lavender thrives in average to poor soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline and drains well.. Aim for a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. If your soil is acidic (below 7.0) add lime to the soil and mix it in well.  When preparing the soil  you can add some organic matter, such as compost, to improve drainage and aeration, but keep in mind lavender does not need rich soil. Beware of adding peat moss to the soil as it can lower the pH if you apply excessive amounts.

How often do you need to water lavender?

Water your lavender seedlings often to keep the soil evenly moist until roots have time to grow and the plant is established in the new area. Reduce watering to once a week or whenever the soil dries excessively. Lavender is drought tolerant and does not typically require supplemental watering. 

Lavender grown in pots or containers may require more frequent watering. Soil in containers dries out quickly in the summer sun. Water them when the soil is dry to the touch 1-inch below the surface.

Do you need to fertilize lavender?

Lavender is not a heavy feeder and may produce heavy foliage at the expense of flowers if it is over-fed. The best routine is to apply water-soluble fertilizer in the spring when the first new growth appears and again just prior to blooming.
lavender bundle

When should you harvest lavender?

Harvest lavender blooms when they first begin to open. Cut the stem back to the next level of blooms. Stems typically branch with one main bloom rising above the others. Two or more smaller blooms emerge on the side branches. Keeping your lavender plants harvested forces new lavender flowers to form and extends the blooming period of lavender.
drying lavender

How do you dry lavender?

Bundle the lavender stems together and secure with twine or elastic. I personally prefer elastic as it holds securely and tightens as the stems dry. Hang the lavender blooms upside down in a dry well-ventilated area to dry.

​Check daily for any signs of mold or disease. Lavender flowers dry quickly, but overall drying time depends on the humidity level and air temperature.

​Most lavender bundles will dry within a week or two. Small bundles are recommended as they dry quicker and are less likely to get moldy in humid weather.
dried lavender

How do you store dried lavender?

How you store your dried lavender depends on the expected use. Snip the dried lavender flowers and leaves from the stem to use for potpourri or sachets and store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Lavender can also be tied up with a decorative bow and displayed with the stems attached
lavender sachet

Do you need to cut lavender back in the fall?

No. Lavender plants should not be cut back to the ground in the fall, but can be cut back to 6 to 8 inches.

New growth appears in the spring on the old wood of the lavender plant.

​Lavender begins growing later than other perennial herbs. Don't be discouraged if the plant looks dead in the spring. Be patient. Regrowth will appear soon.
Copyright © 2014 Nannette Richford



  • Home
  • Garden Thyme Blog
  • Themes
    • Butterfly Gardens
    • Moon Gardens
    • Sensory Gardens
    • All About Fairies
  • Flowers
    • Annual Flowers >
      • Alyssum
      • Cosmos
      • Geraniums
      • Marigolds
      • Morning Glories
      • Nasturtiums
      • Petunias >
        • Reviving Petunias
      • Snapdragons
      • Sunflowers
      • Sweet Peas
      • Zinnias
    • Perennial Flowers >
      • Golden Glow (Rudbeckia laciniata ‘Hortensia’)
      • Lupines
      • Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)
    • Maine Wildflowers
  • Veggies
    • Warm Season Vegetables >
      • About Beans >
        • Growing Beans
        • Growing Pole Beans
        • How to Make a Teepee Trellis
      • About Corn >
        • Growing Corn
        • What is Baby Corn, anyway?
        • Can you grow corn in containers?
      • Cucumbers >
        • Grow a cucumber in a bottle
        • Growing Pickling Cucumbers
        • Growing cucamelons (Mexican Gherkin)
        • Why do cucumbers blossom but fail to set fruit?
        • Trellising Cucumbers
        • Making Cucumber Relish
        • Powdery Mildew on Cucumbers
      • Melons
      • Peppers >
        • Growing Peppers
      • Squash >
        • Growing Zucchini
        • Spaghetti Squash
      • Tomatoes >
        • How to Harden Off Tomato Plants
        • How (and when) to Prune Tomatoes
        • Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) for Tomatoes
        • Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes
        • Growing Cherry Tomatoes in Hanging Baskets
        • 4 Best Tomatoes for Short Seasons - Early Tomatoes
        • 5 Early Maturing Tomatoes for Short Season Gardening
        • How to Ripen Green Tomatoes
        • How to Make Sun-Dried Tomatoes at Home
        • How to Grow a Pomato Plant
    • Cool Season Vegetables >
      • Cole Crops
      • Greens >
        • How to Grow Spinach
        • How to Grow Malabar Spinach
        • How to Grow Swiss Chard
        • Harvesting and Cooking Beet Greens
        • How to Grow Microgreens
      • Onions & Garlic >
        • How to Grow Garlic
        • How to Grow Onions
      • Peas >
        • Growing Garden (shelling) Peas
        • Growing Sugar Snap Peas
      • Potatoes >
        • How to Grow Potatoes in Containers
        • How to Grow Potatoes in Hay Bales
      • Root Crops >
        • Growing Beets
        • How to Grow Carrots
        • Turnips vs Rutabagas
  • Herbs
    • Growing Basil
    • Growing Chives
    • Growing Lavender
    • Herbal Tea Garden
    • How to Grow a Culinary Herb Garden
    • How to Grow Herbs in Sponges
    • Colonial Herb Garden - Classroom Project
    • Herbed Butter
    • Making Herbed Oils
  • Gardening Basics
    • Seed Starting Basics
    • Grafting Basics
    • Soil >
      • Starting a New Garden
      • How to Prepare Soil
      • How to Test Soil Drainage
      • What Type of Soil Do You Have
      • Soil Mix Recipe for Containers
      • How to Make Compost Tea
      • How to Use Mulch
  • Garden Pests
    • How to Control Japanese Beetles
    • How to Control Blister Beetles
    • How to Get Rid of Colorado Potato Beetles
  • Birds
    • Hummingbirds >
      • DIY Hummingbird Feeders from Recycled Bottles
      • Annuals for Hummingbird Gardens
      • Perennials for Hummingbird Gardens
    • About Birdseed
    • Choosing a Birdfeeder
  • Fiddleheads and Fairies
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • How to Marinate Roasted Vegetables