Lavender is a perennial herb that continues to grow each year. Lavender is a woody perennial, so it does continue to grow from year to year, but the stems remain upright through the winter in preparation for new spring growth. With proper care and pruning, lavender will survive in the garden for years to come.
Lavender is a small shrub that usually grows 20 to 24 inches tall and wide. The height includes the flower stalks, so when not in bloom, the foliage may be only a foot tall. The plant does not spread as thyme, oregano, and other herbs tend to.
Lavender makes a great companion plant because it can keep garden pests away due to its strong scent. Lavender, as well as most of the companion plants below, can attract pollinators to your garden. By combining both to attract pollinators and keep pests away, both plants can grow strong and healthy.
Avoid duplicating photos showing mint planted in a single windowsill container with other herbs: mint does NOT do well planted with other common herbs such as lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme, as these herbs prefer soil dry-down and sunny locations.
While pruning lavender, if you cut into woody stems, they won't grow again, but simply die. In general, you need to plan on pruning lavender at planting time and every year right after it flowers. When planting lavender, prune plants lightly, removing all growing tips.
Given a sunny, well-drained site, lavenders will thrive in dry, poor soil and even self-seed.
Start with large pots, as lavender plants can grow to the size of small shrubs. Twelve- to 16-inch containers do the job nicely. Fill the bottom inch or two of the container with Styrofoam peanuts or gravel to facilitate swift drainage. Add a tablespoon of lime to the potting mix after filling the container.
Light: Lavender needs full sun and well-drained soil to grow best. In hot summer climates, afternoon shade may help them thrive. Soil: Lavender grows best in low to moderately-fertile soils, so don't amend the soil with organic matter before planting. Lavender performs best in neutral to slightly alkaline soils.
Lavender, the plant, does contain a small amount of a compound called linalool, which is toxic to both dogs and cats. The linalool is found in such small concentrations, however, that this is rarely an issue. Problems arise only if a dog ingests a very large quantity of lavender.
How to plant
- Plant the lavender as soon as possible after buying.
- Space plants about 90cm (3ft) apart if growing in groups.
- If planting a hedge, space plants 30cm (1ft) apart or 45cm (18in) for larger cultivars.
- After planting, water regularly, especially in dry weather, for the first season.
Yes, you can sow the seeds directly into the ground, but this method is less successful than starting your seeds indoors. Your seedlings will need more care and attention than an outdoor bed can provide.
No, ideally it's best that all types of lavender are exposed to full sun for most of the day. Hardier varieties (Hidcote and Grosso) may survive but it's best to find a sunny spot to plant them in.
Growth Rate From SeedSeeds may take two weeks or more to germinate and several months to reach transplantable size, or about 3 inches tall. Once transplanted into the garden, lavender grows several inches per year, flowering in the second or third year after transplant.
Lavender has a strong scent that repels moths, flies, fleas, and mosquitoes. Use it fresh or dry some of the flowers to hang around the house or put in with your clothing to keep bugs out.
Can rosemary and lavender be planted together? Yes. Both rosemary and lavender are Mediterranean herbs that require similar conditions for both sun and watering.
First technique – hard prune your lavenderOver a few years, typically three or four, you can reduce the size of your lavender shrub. This isn't always successful but it's always worth a try. Pruning all at once would kill the plant. Spreading the pruning over several years is what makes it work.
Among the vegetables and herbs generally considered to be compatible with tomatoes are oregano, carrots, onions, radishes (discouraging two-spotted spider mites), garlic (protection against spider mites), amaranth, chives, stinging nettle, lavender, thyme, and lemon balm.
Companion planting: Plant chamomile with lavender or hyssop. Some say chamomile improves the flavor and growth of cabbages, onions, and aromatic herbs. Chamomile flowers attract beneficial insects including hoverflies and predatory wasps.
Marigold companion planting enhances the growth of basil, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, kale, potatoes, squash and tomatoes. Marigold also makes a good companion plant to melons because it deters beetles. Beans and cabbage are listed as bad companion plants for marigolds.
When planting
flowers and foliage plants as
marigold plant companions, select those that share the same growing conditions.
Here are a few ideas to help you decide what to plant with marigolds:
- Allium.
- Coreopsis.
- Dusty miller.
- Angelonia.
- Gerbera daisies.
- Asters.
- Salvia.
- Lantana.
A: It's fairly easy to transplant a lavender plant, but you can't divide them. Lavenders are woody shrubs and if you split one down the middle, it will die. The best time to move lavender is in late winter and early spring.
Lavender prefers full sun and has many companion plants that can protect it from pests and stimulate its growth. Plants that are particularly good companion plants for lavender include: Herbs: Basil and oregano increase the vitality and growth of nearby lavender plants by repelling aphids and various species of flies.
While the scent of marigolds may be rather repulsive to us, it doesn't particularly bother a honeybee who is after the nectar and, in the process, pollinates the flower. Many longtime gardeners swear by their use and the flowers do seem to repel many other pest insects.
