Cathy Isom continues her series on growing Lavender by giving you a few tips about how to care for your Lavender plants. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
Lavender isn’t the easiest plant to grow but it can be done.
Water once a week until plants are established. Lavender is drought tolerant and does not like wet feet, so plan to give it about an inch of water a week once established only during dry spells.
Lavender doesn’t require fertilizer. A yearly layer of well-aged compost spread on the soil surface in the bed will suffice. Over-fertilizing will cause excessive leaf development and fewer flowers.
Lavender is cold sensitive so you may need a winter mulch. Small chipped wood mulch or pea gravel is best. Make sure the mulch is not touching the base of the plants.
Good pruning is key to keep growing lavender looking tidy and producing robust blossoms. Prune right after the plant flowers and at the beginning of fall. Remember, lavender has a bushy growth habit, so trim regularly to keep the spaces between plants open.
I’m Cathy Isom…