Lavender is known to be one of the most popular herbs for many centuries. It is known for its gentle and calming scent. Aside from its calming scent, lavenders are also known for its aesthetic flowers. Lavender seeds are also cheaper but can produce many flower hedges from one single packet. It is no wonder that many people would want to know how to grow lavender flowers in their gardens.
In this article, we are going to talk about a step by step process on how to grow lavender in your own garden plot at home.
HOW TO GROW LAVENDER IN FLOWER BEDS
1. Soil Preparation
● Before you grow your own lavender flowers, you have to prepare the soil that you are going to use for planting beforehand. Make sure that the soil is well-drained. You can plant lavenders indoors or outdoors, depending on your preference. Your soil must have at least a pH level of 6.5 or higher.
● Once the soil is prepared, the next thing that you should do is prepare your plot. Make an 18-24 inch mound. Your mound should be a mixture of a well-cultivated soil and circle-shaped stones. Put the stones aside and create a French drain with the use of a fist-sized rock at every base of your mound.
● After preparing the mound, dig holes that are deep enough for your lavender seed. Then, add organic compost like bone meals and other leftovers. You can also add lime and compost manure to improve the pH level of your soil. Make sure that your plants are 5 to 6 feet away from each other. Good spacing helps promote good air circulation in your flower bed.
2. Planting your lavender seeds
Once the plot is ready, you can plant the lavender seeds in the holes that you have prepared ahead of time. One of the things that you have to remember on how to grow lavender is the season. If you’re always on the go, make sure that you don’t grow lavenders in the months of August, July, December, and January. During this time of the year, the temperatures can be really extreme.
During July and August, it can be extremely hot. At this time of the year, you have to make sure that your lavender fields are well-watered. At this period, your lavender seeds will establish its roots system. While December and January, the temperature is extremely low. You will have to tamp down your plants to avoid root exposure. Root exposure can cause the roots to be exposed and freeze because of the extreme cold.
3. Water your lavender daily
Once you have planted your lavender pots, make sure that you water your lavender nursery daily. At this point, your seeds are growing their roots system. It is very important that they are well watered. If you are transplanting the lavender plants from the pot and to the garden, it is best that you soak the pot deeply in the evening.
4. Prune the top
Once the plant has matured, it is best that you prune them regularly. Pruning helps keep the plants healthy by removing deceased and sick parts of it. This also encourages the flowers to grow healthy.
5. Till the soil regularly
Excellent drainage is one of the important factors on how to grow lavender. As much as possible, you need to till the soil regularly to ensure that your soil is free from blockage
6. Add organic compost regularly.
Bone meal, compost, and lime help improve soil pH. Make sure that you water your plants deeply after adding these items in your plant soil.
HOW TO GROW LAVENDER IN POT
If you don’t have enough space at home to plant lavenders, you can also plant lavender in a pot. When planting lavenders in pots, make sure that you follow these procedures on how to grow lavender in pots successfully.
● Measure the diameter of the full-grown lavender and choose an appropriate container for it.
This is very important if you want to plant lavender indoors. This is to allow the roots system to develop fully inside the pot. Most roots are shallow; you don’t need to have a very big pot for it. Make sure that your pot has an average spread and depth of 8 to 10 inches. Make sure that the pot also has a good drainage.
● Place your lavender pot on the sunniest place in your home.
One of the key points on how to grow lavender indoors is a well-lit area. Your lavender pot must get a good amount of sunlight. Make sure that you place them in an area where they can receive a huge amount of sunlight in a day.
● Always keep them warm during the winter season
Compared to lavender hedges, potted lavenders are easier to take care during the winter season. In winter, make sure that your potted lavenders are placed in the warmest part of the house. To avoid the soil from hardening, wrap your flower pots with burlap or bubble wrap. If the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, cover your pots with old blankets to ensure that they are warm enough. You can also sink your pots under compost heap to keep your pots warm.
CONCLUSION
When growing lavender plants, you need to put efforts in the soil preparation. Lavenders depend on their soil in order to survive. Make sure that the plant has good drainage, and the soil has the right amount of pH.
Hi there! I’m Lucy – founder of GardenAmbition.com and I’m a self-confessed garden fanatic. Gardening has always been a passion of mine and will always be my favorite pastime. Now that I am married and have one adorable son, I have the time to write and share my personal experiences with other garden enthusiasts like me.