{"id":2024,"date":"2019-03-17T10:53:15","date_gmt":"2019-03-17T10:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2024"},"modified":"2020-01-22T08:36:14","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T08:36:14","slug":"14-gardening-hints-for-a-lavender-plant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-gardening-hints-for-a-lavender-plant\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Gardening Hints for a Lavender Plant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lavenders are perennial plants that carry the strong scents of the Mediterranean and bring it into your home or garden. The lavenders stay fresh throughout the course of the entire year. Many people want to get lavender plants in their garden, but they worry that the process involved might too difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re not gonna lie to you, getting yourself some lavenders and then taking care of them won\u2019t exactly be a cakewalk. That said, while the path is perilous, the reward is equally notable. Lavender has been revered across the globe for its fragrance, medicinal applications, and gorgeous aesthetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today we\u2019re going to teach you everything you need to know about lavenders. From proper care to fun facts, you\u2019re going to get it all here today. If you find this resource useful then we encourage you to share it with all your botanists, gardener, and farmer friends so that they too may benefit from the information contained herein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Location<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you want to grow lavenders, you should choose a spot that has enough natural light. Lavender is a herb from the Mediterranean and as such prefers warmer climates to cold ones. Find an area that will give your spot at least eight hours of direct sunlight every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ideally you\u2019d also want the spot to have some sort of cover to protect your lavender from the wind. Check to see if the soil has enough drainage. Lavenders can\u2019t handle dampness, so paying mind to the soil is essential to achieving the best results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to improve the drainage of your soil, you can add some silica sand in before you plant the lavenders. Silica sand never cements but it helps your soil drain out any excess moisture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could also consider putting your lavenders on a raised bed to optimize the drainage process.  Regularly check the soil around your lavender to see if things are getting too damp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lavenders are enduring perennials that can live for years on end if you give them the right conditions. Due to the fact that they originated in the Mediterranean, it\u2019s no surprise that lavenders are a big fan of the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also love dry soil, much as you\u2019d find in the deserts of Ancient Persia. If your lavenders are struggling, you\u2019re likely giving them too much water, not enough sunlight, or you might just be in an area that isn\u2019t arid enough for these desert plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in a colder region, your best bet is to get English lavenders. Be sure to get winter protection though as heavy snowfall is the last thing that lavenders want to deal with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

French and Spanish lavenders are more resilient to moisture but will need enough space between each plant to ensure that they get enough air circulation \u2014 they will need pretty hot temperatures to flourish though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we mentioned above, the arch-nemesis of any lavender is dampness. If the roots of your lavender become too damp, your plant will die very rapidly. The death from dampness is even more rapid than that of freezing or drought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a matter of fact, overwatering is the most common cause of death for lavender plants. Water your lavender generously for the first week after planting it, but then take a more frugal approach once it has matured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to gauge how much water your lavender needs is to watch the soil. Only water your lavender if the soil has already drained and dried out since the last serving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you want the soil to be dry, you should never let the lavender get dehydrated. If you\u2019re growing your lavenders in cooler climates, you\u2019ll want to be very frugal when it comes to watering them unless you\u2019re growing them during the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Pruning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pruning is an essential part of proper care of any plant. When you prune your lavenders, it will help them grow out faster and keep them healthy. It will also keep them looking nice for all your neighbors to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lavenders will bloom on new stems so the best time prune it would be late in the season. You should start pruning your lavenders on their second year, and then annually from there on out. You should never cut more than a third of the plant in one session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always cut with caution to ensure that you don\u2019t damage their stems. Pruning helps your lavender grow, but cutting their stems will lead to death. If you want to keep your lavender tidy and neat, be sure to prune it at least three times throughout the season. You don\u2019t have to go for all three times though, the exact volume comes down to preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Cuttings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Grab a sharp knife and then find a stem that doesn\u2019t have any flower buds on it. Once you find this stem, cut it off and store it. These cuttings will be around four inches long. Take away the leaves from the first two inches of your cutting and then peel the skin off of one side using your knife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s advised that you dip your cutting in rooting hormones before replanting it. Once you\u2019re ready, stick it in a pot filled with dry soil. Bear in mind that lavender doesn\u2019t really have trouble when it comes to setting roots so adding hormones aren\u2019t really necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, they do speed the process up. Pack the soil tightly around your cutting so that it can stand upright. Water the soil frugally and place the pot in an area that gets a lot of suns. Don\u2019t overwater your cutting or it won\u2019t be able to grow properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Weeds and pH<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can avoid the occurrence of weed surrounding your lavender plant like a Greek army by using some mulch and covering the soil with it. Stick to mulch of lighter colors. This includes oyster shells, gravel, and coarse sand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mulch can also protect your lavender during the colder months of the year, especially during the frosty conditions of winter. Avoid using wood mulch for your lavender as it will retain moisture, and we all know how these plants feel about dampness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to the pH level, try to keep the conditions slightly alkaline as this is perfect for the growth of lavenders. The ideal pH level of the soil that you plant your lavenders in is around the 7.0 range, give or take half a point. If you want to raise the alkalinity in your soil, try adding some lime. Add the lime in small increments until you get the desired pH level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Harvesting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The perfect time to harvest your lavender is when you start to see the bottom flowers blossom from their stems. This is the point in time when your lavenders are most fragrant and vibrant. Cut your flowers at the base of the stem, close to the foliage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After harvesting your flowers, prune your plant back. Doing this will increase the probability of your plant reblooming in the fall. If most blooms on your lavender plant have already opened up then it\u2019s most likely too late to harvest the flowers for their medicinal applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to dry the lavender out after harvesting, wait until 75% of the blooms have opened up then proceed to harvest. If you want to use your lavender flowers as decoration, you can put them in a vase but don\u2019t fill the vases with water or they\u2019ll die that much faster. Remember, lavenders and moisture really don\u2019t mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. When life gives you lavender, make lemonade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You probably think we\u2019ve totally lost our minds just based on the title of this subheading. That said, while it might sound crazy, we promise we\u2019re not messing with you. For decades people have used lavender in various folk medicine treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common is the treatment of the nervous system. Combining lavender extract with lemon juice and blending them together will make for a drink that is high in nutrients but low in carbs. We also advise that you get maqui berries in the mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These berries can be found in South America, and are one of the most potent antioxidant fruits that you\u2019ll ever find. Other ingredients that can go well with this lavender-lemonade shake include apples and pears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People have said that this beverage helps them stay calm yet focused throughout the entire day. Be sure to consult with your doctor before ingesting any new substances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Bugs beware<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While humans may love the scent of lavender, the same can\u2019t be said for pests. Mosquitoes, moths, mice, and flies absolutely hate the fragrance of lavender. While lavenders may remind us of sweet perfume, to pests it smells like the dumpster in a 1950s New York alleyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeing as pests hate the smell of lavenders so much, some people have taken to using the plant as a repellent. Why would you riddle your house with flypaper, mousetraps, and mothballs when you could just put some lavenders up instead?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whenever you have the option of a natural solution or a chemical solution, you should always go the natural path as it will be better for your health more often than not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put some ground up lavender petals at the slits of your doors to keep pests out, and have a few vases spread out across the house. Putting lavenders in high-risk areas is also a viable strategy. Pests are most often in your garden and kitchen, so start there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Medicinal capabilities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lavenders are truly amazing plants, it\u2019s almost like they were built specifically for the pharmaceutical industry. The lavender holds antidepressant, analgesic, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I dare you to find any plant that can top that list. Lavenders can help treat burns, acne, insect bites, headaches, joint aches, and even insomnia. It\u2019s not hard to see why so many people would include lavender in their home remedies just based on all its medicinal properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many big pharmaceutical companies have also incorporated lavenders into their recipes, but why would you pay more for pharmaceuticals with lavender extract when you can grow the source ingredient yourself?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the medicinal properties of the lavender plant, you can even make a pretty penny by selling off your excess flowers. Beyond the medicinal area, you can make a nice profit just based on the gorgeous aesthetic of lavenders, so definitely stay open to the possibility of selling lavenders you don\u2019t need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Use with caution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The lavender is great. We\u2019ve covered so many benefits of it in this article and still have barely scratched the surface. It can ward off mice, relieve a headache, and of course, make your living room look that much more beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, with all the good that the lavender brings, it\u2019s important that you exercise caution when using it. The U.S. National Institutes of Health \u2014 or NIH \u2014 insists that anyone who is breastfeeding or pregnant should refrain from using lavender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They haven\u2019t found any adverse side effects per se, but they stress that those who are pregnant should steer clear of anything that hasn\u2019t been extensively researched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also stated that young boys should avoid using lavender oil as it may lead to hormonal disorders such as gynecomastia. Those who are past the puberty stage should be fine though. You should never eat raw lavenders as some species may be poisonous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Aesthetic strategy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lavenders appeal to most people for their gorgeous aesthetics, and as such, it\u2019s important that you arrange them properly. If you\u2019re putting lavenders in your flower garden, we recommend that you place them on sandy loam soil at the front of the border or even raised beds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planting your lavenders further back might lead to them getting lost in the sea of colors, especially if they have pastel hues such as white, pink, or purple. Avoid placing lavenders near phlox or bee balm as they may be overshadowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping your lavenders out front will grab the eye of anyone passing by. You can even place some lanterns close to your lavender beds to emphasize them. For gardens that exclusively contain lavenders, we suggest that you keep hot colors in the back and pastel colors in the front to ensure that every flower gets its fair share of attention from the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Antifungal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fungus be gone! That\u2019s right, lavender has another medicinal property that it can add to its already long list. A study that was published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology stated that lavender oil may be an effective treatment when it comes to fighting infections that are resistant to pharmaceutical antifungals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scientists conducting the study saw that the strains of fungi that were causing the infection were very vulnerable to lavender oil. The oil killed most of the fungi upon contact. The study said that the oils distilled using the Lavandula genus was the most effective in destroying fungal cells on a membrane level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The publication stated that the study was limited to specific strains of fungus, but also noted that the antifungal properties of lavender were likely applicable on a broader scale than they tested for. Since the publication of this study, more researchers have been looking into the antifungal capabilities of lavender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Heals wounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As if warding off mice, curing infections, and smelling amazing wasn\u2019t enough, lavender takes it a step further by healing your wounds. A study that was published in the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal covered the efficacy of lavender and other home remedies when it comes to the area of wound healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the remedies tested were povidone-iodine, saline, and lavender oil. The substances were used on lab rats. After testing on countless rats and cross-checking the results between the various remedies examined, they determined that lavender was one of the best, with a significantly faster healing time on wounds that were treated with lavender oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The results of the study show that lavender is effective in speeding up the recovery time for wounds. Most of the testing was done on surface wounds so there is no conclusive evidence on how effective lavender would be in treating deeper cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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