Lavender Salvia Care

Lavender is a resilient plant that is extremely drought-tolerant once established. When first starting your lavender plants, keep them regularly watered during their first growing season

Although lavender plants get regularly pruned simply by harvesting the flowers, a bit of spring pruning is recommended to keep them well-shaped and encourage new growth. Taller varieties can be cut back by approximately one-third of their height, while lower growing varieties can either be pruned back by a couple of inches or cut down to new growth.

Areas where the ground routinely freezes and thaws throughout the winter will benefit from a layer of mulch applied after the ground initially freezes. It's a good idealto add a handful of compost in the planting hole when you are first starting lavender plants. But additional feeding is not needed with these plants and can detract from the overall potency of your lavender.

Lavender plants thrive in full sunlight, which is the best way to guarantee a lot of buds and big, full bushes. They really can't handle much (if any) shade, so don't plant them in a bed or spot in your landscape where they'll be overshadowed by trees or other large plants.

As with many plants grown for their essential oils, a lean soil will encourage a higher concentration of oils, so go easy on the organic matter and fertilizer. Lavender prefers well-drained soil that is on the drier side, so if you're using a traditional potting mix, be sure to add in some sand for drainage. An alkaline or especially chalky soil will enhance your lavender's fragrance. Any pH below about 6.5 will likely cause lavender plants to be very short-lived—this is not a good choice for acidic soils.

Lavender can withstand a range of temperatures—it is usually dampness more than cold that is responsible for killing lavender plants. Dampness can come in the form of wet roots during the winter months or high humidity in the summer. If humidity is a problem, make sure you have plenty of space between your plants for airflow, and always plant your bushes in a sunny location. Protect your lavender plants from harsh winter winds by planting them next to a stone or brick wall, which will provide additional heat and protection.

Fill a small pot with a seed-starting mix, then dip the stripped side of the cutting in rooting hormone and bury it into the seed-starting mix. Moisten the mix with a bit of water, then cover the pot with plastic. Softwood cuttings take two to four weeks to begin rooting; hardwood cuttings take a bit longer.

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