How to Grow Lavender: A Tutorial for Beginners

Growing lavender is such an enjoyable experience where you have the opportunity to work with your hands, enjoy time with your family, and later use this amazing herb. Although lavender is a Mediterranean plant that likes to stay dry, it is very possible to grow lavender and we will show you how in this article.

Planting lavender is best done in the spring after the risk of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. It will grow at a moderate pace, often adding a few inches to its size each year. Please remember that lavender can be toxic to pets if consumed.

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What Is Lavender?

Lavender (Lavendula spp.) is a popular, fragrant perennial with gray-green foliage, upright flower spikes, and a compact shrub growth habit that reaches between eighteen inches and three feet. Flowers typically bloom in summer and have a signature scent that is somewhat spicy but also calming. Lavender flowers are often purple, however, they can be various shades of purple, pink, or white.

Planting lavender is best in the spring after the risk of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. It will grow at a moderate pace, often adding a few inches to its size each year.

Here is a summary of the characteristics of lavender:

What Are The Benefits of Growing Lavender?

Growing lavender offers so many benefits. Lavender is a hardy and drought-resistant plant that offers an amazing scent, beautiful colors, and an abundance of natural benefits.

1. Less Water

Lavender requires much less water than traditional cut flowers or garden vegetables. This makes it a great choice for drier climates, however, in areas that receive a greater amount of rain, we must find ways to limit the amount of water the plant receives.

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2. Pollinators LOVE Lavender

One reason you may want to grow lavender is that this powerful plant attracts a vast array of essential pollinators like bees, moths, hummingbirds, and butterflies. We love watching bumblebees and Monarch butterflies feeding and foraging in our Ohio lavender field. Our children especially love watching the wildlife enjoy their feeding from our culinary and hybrid varieties.

3. Reduced Soil Erosion

Lavender thrives in crappy soil conditions such as rocky and sandy soils. Unfortunately, clay soils are not the best growing conditions. When you mix a 1:1 blend of limestone and soil, the lavender seems to abound. The deep root structure of lavender plants further prevents soil erosion.

4. No Chemical Fertilizers

One myth that is common among many growers is that plants thrive when fed a chemical fertilizer. Following our years of experience in growing lavender, we can attest that this hardy plant does not require chemical fertilizers nor does it need significant upkeep. This perennial herb is a joy for those of us with green thumbs!

What Are The Health Benefits of Growing Lavender?

As always, please discuss any changes in your health care routine with your medical provider. Please review our disclaimer.

1. Stress Relief and Anxiety Reduction

One of the most well-known benefits of lavender is its calming properties. The International Clinical Journal of Pediatric Dentistry found that inhaling lavender essential oil or the topical application of lavender essential oil can significantly reduce anxiety levels for people of all ages before a dental procedure. We are always looking for healthier options for our family and will keep this in mind for the future!

Just a few drops in a diffuser or a quick whiff from the bottle can help to put you at ease. Hint: we love creating a stress relieving drink as a “lavender latte.”

2. Better Sleep

Because who wouldn’t love to have some dreamy nights? Yes, sign me up! We know that toddlers (or any children) running around can certainly add to sleep challenges. Guess what? Lavender might be your new best friend.

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Research shows that lavender may improve sleep quality and increase the duration of deep REM sleep. The same research indicates lavender is a great natural remedy for insomnia. Sprinkling a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow or using a lavender-infused sleep spray (from Abundantly Blessed Farm, of course) can help you drift off to dreamland more easily.

3. Mood Booster

Let lavender lift your spirits! The scent of lavender has been linked to increased serotonin levels, which may enhance mood and promote feelings of happiness. You don’t have to take it from us, but we tend to have better moods when we are enjoying some lavender lemon cookies made with culinary lavender!

4. Skin Healing

Lavender is an amazing herb with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties making it a great choice for treating minor burns, insect bites, and even acne. A few drops of diluted lavender essential oil, or infused as a lavender oil can soothe irritation and promote healing. Plus, it smells divine—who knew skincare could be so luxurious?

5. Digestive Aid

Feeling a little bloated after that big meal? A lavender tea made with culinary lavender might be the remedy you need. The calming effects of lavender help to relieve symptoms of indigestion and bloating. We have found that sipping on a warm cup of lavender chamomile tea can soothe the tummy of our little ones, too. This brings comfort to me as we are always looking for more natural options in our home.

6. Pain Relief

Have a headache? What about sore muscles? Lavender to the rescue! Studies have shown that lavender oil can help alleviate pain and reduce tension. We have found some headache and tension relief when adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to our bathwater. We love creating a soothing massage oil by mixing lavender essential oil with a carrier oil like coconut or almond oil. We began crafting our Tallow Balm and Tallow Butter to provide pain relief for those stubborn period cramps.

What Lavender Varieties Can Be Grown?

You first need to understand your USDA growing zone. Although, we have found that many English and hybrid varieties grow well in Ohio, there are some lavender varieties that grow better in the southern parts of the United States than compared to the northern zones.

Below is a list of some varieties that we have found to grow well in USDA zone 6. Please know that there are over 400 varieties of lavender, though, the two most common that you will find are English lavenders (i.e. angustifolia) and hybrid.

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): CULINARY, Popular for its fragrant flowers and hardiness.

Munstead Lavender: CULINARY, An English lavender with a strong scent, ideal for gardens.

Hidcote Lavender: CULINARY, Known for its rich color and dense growth, perfect for borders.

French Lavender (Lavandula dentata): Features unique serrated leaves and a lovely aroma.

Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas): Recognizable by its distinctive flower spikes and fragrant foliage.

Grosso Lavender: A hybrid known for its high oil content and strong fragrance, often used in essential oil production.

Lady Lavender: A more ornamental variety with colorful blooms that attract pollinators.

Lavandula x intermedia (Lavandin): A hybrid known for its large flower spikes and strong scent.

Royal Velvet Lavender: CULINARY, Features deep purple flowers and is prized for its oil production.

Phenomenal Lavender: Long stems, Highly resistant to humidity and disease, with excellent fragrance.

Dwarf Blue Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Dwarf Blue’): CULINARY, A compact variety, perfect for smaller gardens or containers.

Sweet Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Sweet’): CULINARY, Known for its sweet fragrance and soft color.

Alba Lavender: A white-flowering variety that offers a unique look in gardens.

Grey Lady Lavender: A compact plant with silvery foliage and pale purple flowers.

Lavender ‘Miss Katherine’: Known for its beautiful, bright purple blooms and compact growth.

Twickel Purple Lavender: Offers vibrant flowers and is well-suited for colder climates.

Soil Requirements to Grow Lavender

Well-draining soil is necessary as lavender hates “wet feet” (or having wet roots). This was one of the biggest concerns we had when we decided to start a lavender farm in Ohio.

Although you can grow lavender directly in the ground in some soil conditions, it is often best to test the soil and then amend it based on needs.

One challenge we found was obtaining a soil test with accurate answers based on the ideal growing conditions for lavender. We located a university extension agent who works with a local greenhouse supplier in our area. Following their testing of our soil, it was recommended to amend it with phosphorus.

*You should consult with the lab that interprets and offers recommendations based on your specific soil type.

After reading as many articles as we could find on ideal growing conditions for lavender and polling many experienced lavender farmers, we discovered that the best option would be to amend the soil with limestone. This would create sufficient drainage for the lavender plants and it would provide adequate nutrients for the plants.

Making the Perfect Lavender Soil Mix

If you are growing on a small scale or in a garden pot for your porch, you can accomplish this by mixing pea sized limestone with the potting soil before planting to promote proper drainage. We love using Garden Magic potting soil and we get it from our local garden center as they typically have better prices than the big-box stores.

Add a 1:1 mixture of pea-sized #8 limestone to your soil mix before planting your lavender plant (see photo below). If you are planting in the ground, it is also a great idea to ensure that you create a raised mound of earth before you plant your lavender plant. Doing both of these will promote adequate drainage in heavier clay soils.

Tempted to use wood bark mulch? Check out this video.

Choosing the Right Location for Growing Lavender

It’s helpful to know that lavender is a Mediterranean herb plant. You can often find lavender growing on the side of rocky mountains in Europe. We need to create the same growing conditions for lavender.

1. Lavender LOVES SUNLIGHT! The more sun, the better. Find a location on your property that has 12+ hours of sunlight every day. Some people find that they can grow in less sunlight, however, the more sunlight…the better!
2. Lavender HATES MOISTURE! The less rain, the better. If you have the choice to grow lavender in a dry location on your property then that is great. Many people don’t have that luxury, so it will likely be necessary to amend your soil with limestone for the best growing conditions.
3. Lavender HATES STRONG WINDS! Although your location may get some strong winds at times, it will be helpful to have a location that isn’t wide open to strong winds. Once your lavender plants are well established, this isn’t something to worry about as much, but more so something for you to be aware of.

Should I Grow Lavender in a Raised Bed?

This is a great question and one that we have wrestled with since starting our lavender farm. We would strongly suggest considering a raised bed or elevated mound to ensure proper drainage.

If we were to replant our lavender field again, we would raise our lavender rows by 6-8 inches to ensure that they would have optimal drainage. We have spoken with several lavender farmers who exclusively grow their lavender in beds of limestone and their plants are flourishing. We would strongly consider a 1:1 limestone and potting soil mixture for growing our lavender in a raised bed.

How to Plant Lavender

When to Plant

Lavender is best planted in the Spring, often in April or May, when the soil warms up and there is no chance of frost.

Where to Plant

Plant lavender in the ground in your sunniest spots. Lavender plants will tolerate many growing conditions, but they grow best in warm, well-draining soil, and full sun.

How to Plant: Transplanting

If you have purchased your lavender plants as plugs, they should be transplanted into a larger pot before planting directly in the ground. When transplanting lavender, dig a hole larger than the root ball, place the plant upright in the hole, and backfill it with soil and compost. Water in the plant. Ensure that your soil is well-draining.

How to Plant: From Seed

Planting lavender seeds? When direct sowing lavender seeds, barely cover them with soil, planting at a depth of 1/8th inch. Initially space the seeds two inches apart, but thin the seedlings so that each one has six inches of room. We admittedly have experienced poor success with starting lavender from seed, however, we would recommend this video if you decide to stratify seeds for growing lavender.

Can You Use Wood Mulch?

One of the hottest topics among lavender growers is whether or not to use wood mulch. Many growers will frown against wood mulch as it absorbs moisture and traps it around the lavender plants. Remember, lavender hates wet feet!

Note: Wood mulch sitting on the soil around the plant is not good as it may lead to root rot and eventually plant death.

However, several growers have found success with amending their soil with wood mulch as a means to promote drainage. If you choose to use wood mulch, we would recommend a soil mix of 2 parts soil, 1 part limestone (or pea gravel), and 1 part wood mulch. The stone will help ensure that you are getting adequate drainage as the wood mulch will eventually break down while in the soil.

Although we don’t recommend using wood mulch as a weed cover on the soil, you may find it helpful to use it in your soil mix.

Spacing Your Plants

Depending on your variety, lavender should be spaced 1-3 feet apart. For example, smaller varieties such as Munstead only require a 12-18″ spacing (we prefer to err on the side of caution and say 18″ is better), whereas hybrid varieties such as Phenomenal require 36″ spacing due to their size. Failure to space your plants properly may result in crowding, poor airflow, and poor drainage which will inevitably lead to plant death.

Caring for Your Lavender

How to Water Lavender

Remember that lavender is a Mediterranean herb that grows in hot, rocky soil, without much rainfall. For optimal growing conditions, our goal is to mimic this environment. If you are starting with a small plug, please know that it will require more frequent watering in its infancy stage.

When transplanting established plants, our goal is to water enough without overwatering. We have found that the only way to do this properly and safely is to use a soil moisture meter. These are very inexpensive tools that are a necessity for any grower.

Lavender Fertilization Tips

Lavender is an extremely hardy plant that requires no fertilization. If you are growing lavender from seed or a cutting, then you may be tempted to use an organic fertilizer in your soil, but we have found that it is not necessary.

Pruning Lavender

Pruning lavender is recommended to keep your plant well-shaped and to encourage new plant growth. The best time to prune lavender is in late summer or early fall when the plant is done blooming. Note: During the first two years of growth, it is important to trim off the purple flowers to force the growing energy down into the root structure.

Taller lavender varieties, such as Phenomenal lavender, 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.

IMPORTANT TIP: Do not cut into the woody section of the plant and instead leave approximately one inch of green growth on the plant when pruning.

Notice in the image below how there is a noticeable difference between the brown and “woody” undergrowth compared to the green/gray foliage indicating new growth. When you prune, keep 1-2 inches of green growth on the stem to ensure proper ongoing plant growth.

Harvesting Lavender

The biggest draw to growing lavender is its beautiful purple flowers! Harvest the flowers as the buds first begin to open. remember to not cut into the woody undergrowth as that is vital for the plant’s health.

Hang the bunches in small bunches upside-down in a location with good air circulation until dried. Some people prefer a closet, but the plants need air circulation until they are completely dried.

We have found that the best way to dry lavender is to hang a simple rope or string in your house, tie the bunches with these rubber bands, and hang them on the string with clothespins. As the bundles dry, the rubber bands shrink with them and keep the bundle together.

We first tried using string to tie the bundles and found that many of the bundles were falling apart throughout the drying cycle.

Should I Cover My Plants in the Winter?

The short answer is…it depends. If you ask 10 lavender farmers this same question, then you are likely to receive 10 different answers. We have asked the same question since starting our farm.

Our experience has taught us that it is more important to have optimal soil conditions for healthy plants than it is to cover the plants during the winter season. We have talked with farmers in multiple growing zones colder than in Ohio and many of them do not cover their plants. Some of those reasons are due to the amount of plants needing to be covered, too.

Here is our answer: If you decide to cover your plants for the winter, you must be ready to uncover them after the last frost.

Do not continue to keep them insulated following the last frost as the plants need to “wake up” and resume their growing cycle. Lavender plants are hardy and often overwinter very well (take a look at the picture below at one of our plants that we did not cover…looks like we forgot to prune a few purple flowers there too).

Common Lavender Growing Challenges

Growing lavender can be challenging. Between the poor soil conditions, heavy rainfalls, and dealing with diseases, the complications may continue.

If you are finding that your plants are having poor growth then it is important to understand the reason.

Perhaps it is too much moisture. This can be caused by overwatering or poorly draining soils. If you are noticing brown spots on your lavender leaves, it may indicate excess moisture. Always rely on your soil moisture meter to determine soil moisture.

Perhaps it is your climate. Consider where your plant is located and ensure the plant is receiving heavy sunlight and is protected from strong winds.

Perhaps it is animals. Although most wildlife and animals do not like lavender, including deer, chipmunks, raccoons, chickens, and cats, some animals like voles and moles will destroy the root structure and surrounding soil. Deer may initially pull small lavender plants out, but the taste is a deterrent for them to enjoy.

Growing Pains Are Not Failures

Although we are not fond of our growing pains, we realize that they teach us something and that it can be helpful to share with others.

Take this image below and look closely at the lavender leaves. You will see that some of them are a greenish/gray color which is appropriate for the cooler season we are in. A few other leaves in the left middle of the plant are gray/brown and those are not normal for this time of the year.

We are unsure why some plants will fair well while others may grow poorly, but we realize that growing pains and crop loss is something that all of us struggle with, including us as lavender farmers. Let this be an encouragement to you that growing lavender is sometimes challenging but not to let these growing pains represent failure on your ability. Sometimes these challenges are inevitable and give us a teaching moment.

If you are uncertain why your lavender plants are not thriving, consider reaching out to a local garden club, a local lavender farmer, or getting a soil test through the local agriculture extension office. If you are located in Ohio, try the Ohio State University agriculture extension office.

Wanting More Lavender Growing Information?

If you would love to have more information on how to grow lavender, then we would recommend the Growing Lavender course from Michigan State University. We took this course several years ago and it was helpful and came highly recommended from many lavender growers. Some of the information is more scientific than what you may desire, but the content is certainly helpful. Also consider connecting with fellow lavender farms in your area.

Final Thoughts

Growing lavender is very rewarding. Despite the growing challenges the climate presents, growing lavender is very possible. Not only is this herb beautiful, but it has so many health benefits for you and your family. Whether you choose to add it to your garden as a companion plant to invite beneficial pollinators, grow it for its health-related benefits, or grow it to enjoy the scent of lavender filling your home, growing lavender is sure to excite your senses and leave you feeling abundantly blessed.

We would love to hear about your lavender-growing journey in the comments below. Tell us what went well, what didn’t go well, and what you would do differently next time.

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Lavender Linen spray/sleep spray

lavender essential oil

lavender oil

lavender chamomile tea

Lavender Tallow Balm

pea sized limestone

potting soil

lavender seeds

soil moisture meter

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rubber bands

clothespins